Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 343: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of farm nitrates inspections under full cross compliance in 2009; the total number of on-farm inspections in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47822/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The position is that my Department, in the context of delivering the Single Payment Scheme (SPS), the Disadvantaged Areas Compensatory Allowance Scheme (DAS) and the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS), is required to carry out on-the-spot inspections on a number of farms covering such issues as eligibility under the schemes, and compliance with the cross-compliance regime. In 2009 some 130,000 farmers applied for the SPS, over 100,000 of these are also applicants under the DAS and approximately 60,000 are applicants under REPS. The value of these schemes to Irish farmers is some €1.9bn.

Each year a minimum of 5% of scheme applicants must be inspected for eligibility. These checks are carried out to verify that the actual area claimed in the application form corresponds to the area held by the farmer and to ensure that there are no overlapping or duplicate claims. Up to two-thirds of these inspections are carried out without a farm visit and using the technique of remote sensing via satellite.

The rate of on-farm inspection required for cross-compliance, including Nitrates, is 1% of those farmers to whom the Statutory Management Requirements or Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition apply. However at least 5% of farmers must be inspected under the Bovine Animal Identification and Registration requirements as this level is prescribed under the relevant Regulations while 3% of sheep farmers must be inspected.

The on-the-spot inspections for eligibility and cross-compliance are integrated to the greatest extent possible with a view to ensuring that there is only one visit to the farm. In 2009 some 1,430 farms were selected for inspection under full cross compliance including nitrates and the total number of on-farm visits was in the region of 8,000.