Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 726: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the cost of inspections by her Department held on 9 November 2006 in the Connemara and south Mayo region; the number of personnel involved in these inspections, their costs and the cost of the provision of helicopter transport used in these inspections; the number of farm inspectors involved and where applicable the cost of their overnight subsistence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10254/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The inspection referred to was an exercise to monitor compliance with the de-stocking requirements of Commonage Framework Plans and was a requirement of the European Commission. On the date in question, by arrangement, the flock owners gathered their sheep flocks off the commonages for counting by a number of officials of my Department, while other officials inspected the commonages to confirm that all sheep were removed. An area of some 8,100 hectares was involved, including some very difficult terrain; 18,600 sheep belonging to 129 flock-owners were subject to the inspection. The number of Department staff involved was 51 and the cost of travel and subsistence was approx €9,250.

My officials made use of a helicopter in the course of this exercise, but my Department did not provide it; it was provided by another Department and was primarily in the area for another purpose.