John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 295: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of field inspectors working for his Department; the number of farmers nationwide registered with his Department to be inspected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21709/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I assume the Deputy is referring to inspections carried out under the Single Payment Scheme.

The Integrated Controls Division of my Department will be conducting 6,217 field inspections in 2008 from an expected 126,000 SPS applicants, some of whom are also Disadvantaged Area, REPS and Suckler Welfare Scheme applicants. 109 field officers will undertake these inspections.

In conducting these inspections, and, at the request of the farming bodies, my Department endeavours to limit the inconvenience to farmers by combining, as far as possible, the various inspections to be undertaken, thereby minimising the number of visits to farms.