Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 390: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she has given any consideration to giving notification to farmers before inspection is done under the REPS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26432/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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One of the provisions of the current EU regulations governing REPS requires inspections to be unannounced. The scheme is 75% funded by the EU, and any failure to comply with this rule could result in serious financial disallowances being imposed on Ireland by the European Commission.

My Department is committed to pursuing the question of a 14-day advance notice for all on-farm inspections. The Commission is preparing its regulations for the next rural development programming period and my Department will raise the issue of advance notice of inspections in this context.