Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 426: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if all farm support payments and grants are paid up to date; the extent to which the relevant inspections have been completed; if delays with inspections are expected to negatively impact on the applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30533/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Charter of Rights for Farmers 2005/2007 sets out deadlines within which payments under the various schemes operated by my Department should be processed. A Charter Monitoring Committee involving the farming organisations and officials of my Department under an independent chairman meets on a regular basis to review compliance with the deadlines in the Charter.

Single Payment Scheme

Under the Single Payment Scheme / Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, my Department processes approximately 130,000 applications each year. A system of combined application form is operated, thereby negating the necessity for those farmers eligible under both schemes to submit two application forms. The EU Regulations governing the Single Payment Scheme require that applications under that Scheme be submitted by 15 May of the year in question, while also providing that payments cannot be made before 1 December of the year of application. In the case of the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, there is discretion as regards the payment date, which is generally mid-September, when the vast majority of applications were fully processed. It will be appreciated that the task of processing up to 130,000 applications is a substantial operation, with the necessity to confirm the detail contained in each individuals' application, most importantly in respect of the various land parcels declared.

Mindful of the adverse weather conditions experienced during the summer months of 2007, I made a successful case to the EU Commissioner that agreement should be forthcoming to allow advance payments under the Single Payment Scheme be made at the earliest possible date, 16 October — the start of the EU financial year. Following successful processing of applications, in excess of 95% of farmers received their advance payment on, or shortly after that date. Payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme had commenced on 21 September and in excess of 90% of applicants had been paid within the following two weeks, with in excess of 98,000 farmers paid to date. Those applicants under both the Single Payment Scheme and the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme who have yet to be paid have received correspondence from my Department, which outlines the reasons for non-payment. As further cases are subsequently confirmed eligible, payment issues without delay.

Single Payment/Cross Compliance Inspections

Two types of inspections are carried out for the purpose of implementing the Single Payment Scheme, Eligibility inspections (area checks) and Cross Compliance inspections. Payment is not delayed where the Cross Compliance inspection is not finalised before payment date. However the EU regulations require that all Eligibility checks are completed prior to payment.

A total of 6,784 farmers who applied for the Single Payment were selected for eligibility inspections in 2007. Some 4,086 were inspected using remote sensing technique without the need for an on-farm inspection. To date some 6,337 eligibility inspections have been fully completed. The cases remaining to be finalized are cases where a final decision could not be taken following remote sensing and these cases require a ground inspection to clarify the position. It is expected that all remaining cases will be finalized in early December so as to allow full payment to issue where appropriate.

On-Farm Investment Schemes

Grant payments under the following on-farm investment schemes are being made in accordance with the deadlines set out in the Charter of Rights for Farmers 2005-2007:

Farm Improvement Scheme

Farm Waste Management Scheme

Sow Housing (Animal Welfare) Scheme

Young Farmers' Installation Scheme

Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS)

Over 85% of annual payment applications in REPS have been processed in line with the targets. Additional staff resources have recently been assigned to my Department's local offices to assist with the processing of REPS files. The required number of post-payment inspections will be completed by year-end and there have been no delays affecting payments to participants arising from these inspections.

Forestry Grants Scheme

Grants under the forestry schemes are being paid in a timely manner. Inspections may be required to confirm compliance with approvals granted but I am happy that this does not lead to unwarranted delays for applicants.