Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 322: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, in view of the changeover to the single payment system, there will be any change in the number for personnel employed at inspector level in DLOs; the percentage of farmers which can expect spot inspections; if farmers will be given time to rectify any problems they may have, especially in view of the fact that no grant aid is available for those with under 20 livestock units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23091/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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It is not envisaged that, in the short term, there will be any significant change in the number of personnel employed at inspector level in DLOs as the change will demand the introduction of a new inspection system, with more integrated inspections. The regulations require that 5% of all applicants must to be inspected in respect of the eligibility of the land declaration under the single payments scheme. Furthermore, it is necessary to check at least 1% of applicants under most of the cross-compliance measures, with the exception of cattle identification and registration, where at least 5% of producers must be inspected.

In order to minimise the level of disruption to farming, it has been decided to integrate inspections to the maximum extent possible. On this basis my Department estimates that, in all, fewer than 10,000 farmers will be visited. This represents more than a 50% reduction in the number of inspections when compared to the old coupled regime. The number of personnel required to deliver the inspection programme will be kept under review.

My Department has engaged in detailed discussions with the farming organisations in the context of a new charter of rights which, inter alia, addresses the arrangements for or from inspections and these discussions are now coming to fruition.