Written answers

Wednesday, 15 June 2011

Department of Agriculture, Marine and Food

Grant Payments

10:00 pm

Photo of Pádraig Mac LochlainnPádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 510: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans to examine the stringent criteria attached to the single farm payment; and if there is room for a less harsh compliance regime. [15112/11]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department, in the context of delivering the Direct Payment Schemes, is required to carry out on-the-spot inspections on a number of farms covering such issues as eligibility under the Scheme, compliance with EU legislation in the areas of the environment, food safety, animal health and welfare and plant health and ensuring that the farm is maintained in good agricultural and environmental condition.

A minimum of 5% of Scheme applicants are required to be inspected under the eligibility rule. 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 there are no overlapping claims or duplicate claims. Up to two-thirds of these inspections are carried out without a farm visit and using the technique of remote sensing.

The rate of on-farm inspection required for cross-compliance is 1% of those farmers to whom the Statutory Management Requirements or GAEC apply. However, at least 3% of producers must be inspected under the Bovine and Ovine Animal Identification and Registration requirements. For Bovine checks in 2011 this constitutes a reduction of 2% from previous years.

My Department is in regular contact with the European Commission with a view to simplification of the Direct Payments Scheme requirements. In this connection the European Commission, in consultation with Member States, undertook a full review of the cross-compliance regime. The following issues were covered in the conclusions:-

Tolerance for minor non-compliance

Introduction of a "de minimis" rule for penalties

Harmonisation of control rates

Advance notice of Inspections

Reviewing the "10 month rule"

Making better use of the results of existing controls in the context of risk analysis for cross-compliance.

Phasing in of cross-compliance for new Member States operating the SAPS

Council and Commission Regulations are now in place implementing these new arrangements.

In tandem with this my Department carried out a full review of the inspection arrangements for the Single Payment Scheme with a view to simplification of the arrangements (including paperwork) where possible while, at the same time, ensuring compliance with the regulatory requirements.

While all inspections should be unannounced, the Department can give up to 14 days notice for land eligibility and cross-compliance inspections involving SMRs other than those related to animal identification and registration, food, feed, and animal welfare. For checks involving cattle identification and registration the maximum advance notice is 48 hours provided the Department is satisfied that the purpose of the inspection is not jeopardised. For SMRs dealing with feed, food and animal welfare no advance notice may be given.

My Department is required to ensure that the control environment established under cross-compliance is robust and meets with regulatory and audit requirements.

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 511: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when payment will issue to persons (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15124/11]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named has been approved into the AEOS scheme with a start date of 1 November 2010.

Under the EU Regulations governing the Agri-Environment Options Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. I expect that payments to participants in the scheme in respect of the first year will commence in August and that payments in respect of year two will commence in October. I am working with my officials to bring the payments forward if at all possible as I can understand the need for expediency.

Photo of Pádraig Mac LochlainnPádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 512: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans for cattle and sheep discussion groups to be incentivised with the same support as dairy groups, that is €1,000 per participant. [15152/11]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I recognise the merits of discussion groups as a vehicle for transferring technology. In this regard, I would urge all farmers to avail of the extremely valuable information emerging from Teagasc, ICBF and from the Teagasc / IFJ Better Farm Beef Programme and to participate where possible in discussion groups or other collaborative initiatives which can assist farmers in making their enterprises more efficient and in improving margins.

Insofar as providing a financial stimulus to encourage participation in beef or sheep discussion groups is concerned, the realities of the public finances mean that difficult choices will have to be made when it comes to allocating scarce Exchequer resources. Like other Ministers, I am faced with a number of financial challenges at present but I can assure the deputy that my approach to determining spending priorities will be informed by the need to ensure that scarce public resources are utilised to best effect to facilitate the development of the beef, sheep and other agri-food sectors.

There has, of course, been significant public investment in the beef and sheep sector in recent years through the Farm Waste Management Scheme, the Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme and the Capital Investment Scheme for the beef and sheepmeat processing industry.

I am fully aware of the significant benefits of the current discussion group mechanism in the dairy sector. However, I should point out that this scheme is funded entirely from unspent EU Single Farm Payment Funds, which have been fully allocated at this stage.

Photo of Andrew DoyleAndrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 513: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding an application for a dairy grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15154/11]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named is an applicant for grant-aid under the Dairy Equipment Scheme which has been temporarily closed for new applications since 8 June 2011. Processing of the applications received prior to the date of suspension of the Scheme is continuing within my Department and the applications concerned will be processed up to the financial ceiling of the tranche which was open on the date of suspension of the Scheme. In the case of the Dairy Equipment Scheme, this amounts to €10.38 million. Applicants that are approved for funding will be notified as soon as possible.

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