Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1632: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there is data available on the way Irish farmers feel their situation has improved or disimproved since the introduction of the single farm payment. [31299/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Single Payment Scheme, which was introduced in 2005, replaced the various coupled schemes, each of which had different application periods and eligibility requirements. The main benefit for farmers of the introduction of the Single Payment Scheme was, therefore, that it allowed farmers greater freedom-to-farm, with individual farmers free to choose which farming enterprise best suited their own circumstances. The introduction of the Single Payment Scheme also radically changed the application process for farmers, in that under the new scheme farmers only have to submit one application form, in lieu of the variety of forms previously required when there were a number of different schemes in operation.

During 2007, the EU Commission engaged consultants to conduct a review in five Member States, one of which was Ireland, to measure the administrative burden of the CAP — specifically the Single Payment Scheme — on farmers. The consultants conducted a series of workshops with farmers from a variety of farming backgrounds. The study itself found that Irish farmers have the lowest per hectare administrative cost for participation in the Scheme of the five Member States involved. The consultants found farmers' attitudes towards the Single Payment Scheme itself to be quite positive and similarly so in relation to the administration of the scheme by my Department. Farmers did, however, have many worthwhile suggestions regarding improvements to the running of the scheme, many of which have since been implemented, for example: longer application periods, in order to avoid bottlenecks — the application period in 2008 opened in Ireland in February, with the closing date set at the latest allowable under Regulation, 15 May; earlier payments — while this issue is being pursued as part of the Health Check, agreement of the EU Commissioner is being sought for an advance payment for 2008, in line with the earlier advance payment date agreed for 2007.