Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The entire Direct Payments made by my Department are dependent on the operation by my Department of an up to date Land Parcel Identification System. That system must, as required by EU legislation, in particular the Integrated Administrative and Control System (IACS), be kept fully updated each year reflecting the annual return of maps by farmers applying under the various Direct Payment schemes. In relation to those Direct Payment Schemes, €1.3 billion is paid annually to Irish farmers under the Single Payment Scheme and a further €700 million when account was taken of the other area related Schemes (REPS, Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and the Afforestation Aid Scheme).

The digitising work must be carried out to meet my Department's deadlines and to the high standard required both by my Department and the European Union's IACS. Under IACS, the payments made together with the operation of the Land Parcel Identification System in Ireland are subject to frequent and rigorous audits by the European Commission and the European Court of Auditors. The quality of the digitising work carried out for my Department by the named company has never been called into question during any of those audits. In addition the company named has played a vital role in assisting my Department meet very ambitious payment deadline since the introduction of the Single Payment Scheme including advance payment to the vast majority of farmers in the five year when such advance payment was approved by the EU Commission. The company named has been engaged in the provision of digitising services for the past sixteen years. During that time the amount paid per year was as follows:

My Department provides such accommodation and other equipment required by the company named to facilitate its staff carrying out their digitising duties to the standard required. In practice, the staff of the digitising company are required to work with the staff of the Single Payment Unit. Consequently the staff of the Digitising company are accommodated in Government Offices, Portlaoise and in Agriculture House, Kildare Street, adjacent to the staff of the Single Payment with whom they continually interact. The maps submitted by applicants are vitally important documents and it is important that they are not mislaid. If the changes illustrated in the maps are accurate it will ensure that the farmer is fully paid. It will also mean that the Land Parcel Identification System database is accurate. Therefore, it is important that the maps are processed within my Department.

The digitising company has been chosen every three years under an open Invitation to Tender Procedure conducted in line with Public Procurement procedures. Tenders have been invited on a three yearly basis with provision for an annual review. I am satisfied that those tender procedures were adjudicated upon in full compliance with Public Procurement Procedures and I am satisfied that there is no conflict of interest between the contractor named and any member of staff within my Department.