John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 499: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will ensure that the single farm payment for a person (details supplied) is released in view of the fact that all documentation has been lodged for previous entitlements and no changes have occurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11305/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The position is that an application for the Transfer of Entitlements by way of lease under the 2006 Single Payment Scheme to the person named was submitted on the 5th April 2006.

During processing of the Transfer application it was found that the entitlements concerned were not yet registered in the name of the transferor.

The entitlements must firstly be transferred by inheritance to the name of the transferor. Arrangements have been made for the issue of an inheritance application form as my Department has no record of having received an inheritance application from the transferor.

Arrangements can then be made to transfer the entitlements by way of lease to the person named.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 500: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her views on a reduction in the complexity of the cross compliance form for farmers in order to ascertain if the number of conditions to be met can be reduced from 1450; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11497/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The position is that the introduction of the Single Payment Scheme and my Department's commitment in the Charter of Rights for farmers to ensure maximum integration of inspections has resulted in a drop in annual on-farm inspection levels from 18,000 under the coupled regime to less than 8,000 in 2006. I agree that the inspection requirements linked to cross-compliance are complex and I am committed to negotiating significant changes in the context of the simplification exercise, which is currently underway in the Commission. I think it needs to be made clear however that the inspection checklist on cross-compliance is not a document for completion by the farmer but is an internal Department document.

It is important also to bear in mind that the controls under the various direct payment schemes are set out in EU Regulations. Failure to ensure a satisfactory control environment leaves a member State open to serious financial penalty — a fact that cannot be lightly dismissed given the magnitude of annual payments of €1.9 billion to Irish farmers under the Single Payment Scheme, the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and REPS. Nonetheless, I believe that the cross-compliance inspection requirements are overly demanding on farmers. It is my clearly held view that some practical amendments can be secured without in any way undermining the objectives of cross-compliance or putting accountability in the disbursement of EU and national funds at risk.

As I have made clear already, I have raised my concerns about the Single Payment Scheme — particularly the inspection arrangements and the need for advance notice — with Commissioner Fischer Boel on a number of occasions. I have also discussed the problems with Minister Seehofer, the German President of the Agriculture Council and I am assured of his commitment to dealing with the issues over the next few months.

The Commission is finalising a review document on cross-compliance. This document is due to be presented to the Agriculture Council for discussion by Ministers in April. With the commitment of the Presidency to progressing the dossier speedily, I am hopeful that changes can be agreed in time to apply to the 2007 inspection arrangements.

In tandem with this, my Department is carrying out a full review of the inspection arrangements and checklists for the Single Payment Scheme with a view to simplification of the arrangements (including paperwork) where possible while, at the same time, ensuring compliance with the regulatory requirements. The review of the inspection report forms together with the outcome of the Commission's review of the cross-compliance arrangements generally, will be fully discussed with the farming organisations before the Single Payment Scheme inspections for 2007 get underway.