Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 358: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to significantly reduce the regulatory burdens faced by farmers. [18136/08]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 379: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to minimise and streamline the financial and regulatory issues facing small farms and farm businesses. [18157/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 358 and 379 together.

The introduction of the Single Payment Scheme in 2005 has dramatically reduced the paperwork for farmers in applying for Direct Payments when compared to the previous system of submitting multiple applications under the Livestock Premia and Arable Aid Schemes. In addition, the Department is currently introducing an on-line application system for the Single Payment and Disadvantaged Areas Scheme PS and the DAS scheme for 2007 to facilitate and streamline the application process, which supports Schemes worth in excess of €1.6 billion per annum to farmers in Ireland. Over 7,500 farmers availed of this facility in its first year of operation in 2007. I am confident that in excess of 20,000 farmers will utilise the facility, which is regarded by all users as very efficient and effective, to apply for these Schemes in 2008. By mid April this year over 8,000 farmers had applied on-line. It is expected that the number of electronic applications will double in 2008.

Following a Commission review in 2007 on the operation of cross compliance, some legislative changes have been made which set rules for the non imposition of sanctions for minor breaches of the cross compliance requirements in addition to the possibility for a de minimus provision where sanctions up to €100 may be waived. The review also introduced resulted in the replacement of the existing 10-month rule and a one-day availability rule for land and clarified the cross compliance responsibilities in the context of the one-day land availability requirements. My Department has also carried out a full review of the inspection arrangements and checklists for the Single Payment Scheme and other Direct Payment Schemes with a view to simplification of the arrangements (including paperwork) where possible while, at the same time, ensuring compliance with the regulatory requirements.

The issue of further rationalisation of the cross-compliance arrangements will be further pursued in the context of the CAP Health Check discussions. My Department is also working closely with the European Commission in relation to its stated objective of simplifying the operation of the Common Agricultural Policy. A number of submissions have been made to the Commission. I intend to continue the work with the Commissioner with a view to simplifying the CAP with particular reference to the Single Payment Scheme.