Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Fisheries and Food the date when farmers who applied under the dairy equipment scheme will receive approval to proceed with their investment; if he will confirm if all eligible applicants will qualify for a grant with no selection criteria applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17775/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Dairy Equipment Scheme was suspended for new applications on 8 June 2011 as part of my decision to temporarily close the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS) until the position in relation to the availability of funds for next year is clarified. As I indicated at the time, I could not defend a situation in which my Department continued to accept applications under schemes when there was a question-mark over the financing of those grants when they became due for payment.

I also announced at that time that applications received prior to the date of suspension of the TAMS would be processed and approved up to the level of the current tranches of funding. As the value, in grant terms, of the applications received under the Dairy Equipment Scheme prior to its suspension is within the financial ceiling of the current tranche, all eligible applications received up to that date under the Scheme will be processed to approval stage. Processing of these applications is continuing within my Department and the issuing of approvals under the Scheme should commence in the near future.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Fisheries and Food if he will set out any changes to procedures or penalties for the single farm payment area and cross compliance checks in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17776/11]

Simon 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, using the technique of remote sensing. Under EU regulations governing the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and the Single Payments Scheme all ground eligibility inspections must be completed before any payment can issue to any applicant under either scheme, including those not selected for a ground eligibility inspection.

For 2011 the rate of on-farm inspection required for cross-compliance remains 1% of those farmers to whom the Statutory Management Requirements or GAEC apply, however, the numbers to be inspected the Bovine Animal Identification and Registration requirements has been reduced from 5% of producers to 3%. The requirements in relation to sheep farmers as prescribed under the relevant Regulations remains at 3% for 2011. There are no changes with regards to penalties.

In 2010, in an effort to minimise duplication of farm inspections, my Department agreed to carry out some 1,600 farm inspections under the GAP regulations on behalf of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. This arrangement was retained for 2011 and the majority of these inspections have already been completed.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Fisheries and Food the number of penalties imposed on farmers by county under the single farm payment scheme, disadvantaged area scheme, the suckler cow welfare scheme, the REP scheme and the agri environment option scheme in 2011 and the % penalty applied on these farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17777/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As processing of the 2011 applications under both the Single Payment Scheme and the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme is in the early stages, the closing date for receipt of applications having been 16 May, with a facility for receipt of late applications up to and including 10 June, the position regarding penalties under these 2011 Schemes has not yet been established. Therefore, the 2010 Schemes have been used as the basis of this reply. In addition, given the variety of the regulatory penalties and the range of individual circumstances of applicants, it is not feasible to tabulate the range of penalties applied.

Single Payment Scheme

Annually, some 124,000 farmers benefit under the Single Payment Scheme. The following table shows that a total of 3,852 individuals warranted some level of penalty under the 2010 Scheme. A variety of regulatory penalties apply, ranging from late penalties, where an application form is received after the Scheme closing date, to various parcel-related penalties (dual claims, over-claims), an penalties following field inspections, where issues are identified relating to Cross Compliance, etc.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme

Annually, in excess of 100,000 farmers benefit under this Scheme. While there are no Scheme-specific penalties under DAS, the regulatory penalties applicable under SPS also apply to DAS.

Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme

Penalties have been applied under the Suckler Welfare Scheme as set out on the table below. These penalties were applied to animals born during 2010, the majority of the payments having been made in 2011 but with some payments having issued in December 2010. The penalties are calculated on the basis of the number of animals that have been rejected for payment, for non–compliance with the Terms and Conditions of the Suckler Welfare Scheme, in direct relation to the number of animals registered in the Scheme during 2010.

REPS/AEOS

The data for REPS/AEOS is not available at this time; it will be made available to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Fisheries and Food if he will give a commitment that all eligible applicants under the various schemes will be paid on time in 2011 and in accordance with the Farmers Charter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17778/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The data for REPS/AEOS is not available at this time; it will be made available to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Single Payment Scheme

The Single Farm Payment forms a significant part of the annual income of the farming community in Ireland. It is clear that the timing of this payment is extremely important to farmers, particularly those farmers with low farm incomes. It is also important in the current difficult financial circumstances where farmers, like other sectors in the economy, are finding it very difficult to access credit. Therefore, I decided that I would seek the approval of the EU Commission to make an advance payment of the SFP from16 October 2011, the first day of the new EU financial year.

In the event that such approval is forthcoming, I am confident that the necessary inspections will be completed in sufficient time to allow the advance payments begin issuing as and from 16 October.

It is a requirement of the EU Regulations that all eligibility checks are initiated prior to the commencement of payments under the Single Farm Payment, Disadvantaged Area Scheme and other area-based Schemes. I am, however, satisfied that all of the eligibility inspections will be initiated in order that the payments can commence as already outlined and that the maximum number of payments can be made before the end of the calendar year.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme

The necessary progress in processing applications is being made which will ensure delivery of payments under the 2011 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme to the farmers concerned, as and from the latter half of September 2011. Furthermore, I have decided that the full amount due will issue at that stage, unlike last year, when an advance payment was made, at a rate of 75 per cent.

While there is no regulatory timeframe laid down as regards the timing of payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, my Department has committed to making payments as early as possible. It is recognised that second half of September is the earliest date payments can realistically commence following the processing of applications and the initiation of all eligibility inspections, which is a requirement of the EU Regulation and I am satisfied that the necessary inspections will be completed in sufficient time to allow Disadvantaged Area payments to commence, as usual, in the latter half of September.

While there is no regulatory timeframe laid down as regards the timing of payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, my Department has committed to making payments as early as possible. It is recognised that second half of September is the earliest date payments can realistically commence following the processing of applications and the initiation of all eligibility inspections, which is a requirement of the EU Regulation and I am satisfied that the necessary inspections will be completed in sufficient time to allow Disadvantaged Area payments to commence, as usual, in the latter half of September.

The payments under the Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme are dependent on the participants in the Scheme completing the registration of the events required under the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme. Payments to farmers are made on an ongoing basis as soon as the events registered by the participants in the Scheme are verified and found to satisfy all of the requirements of the Scheme.

The payments under the Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme are dependent on the participants in the Scheme completing the registration of the events required under the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme. Payments to farmers are made on an ongoing basis as soon as the events registered by the participants in the Scheme are verified and found to satisfy all of the requirements of the Scheme.

All REPS 4 payments will be made in accordance with the Farmers Charter.

To date, 85 per cent of REPS 3 valid applications are being scheduled for payment within 8 weeks, and 100 per cent of those approved are paid within 1 month.

To date, 85 per cent of REPS 3 valid applications are being scheduled for payment within 8 weeks, and 100 per cent of those approved are paid within 1 month.

In relation to the -

Farm Improvement Scheme;

Dairy Hygiene Scheme;

Young Farmers' Installation Scheme;

Pig Welfare Scheme; and

Alternative Enterprises Scheme;

I can confirm that my Department will endeavour to ensure that all payments under the above Schemes will be processed within the periods referred to in the Farmers' Charter.

All payments under the Farm Waste Management Scheme have now effectively been made. In the case of the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS), the current Farmers' Charter does not set out any commitments, but again my Department will endeavour to ensure that processing of applications/payments takes place as speedily as possible.

All payments under the Farm Waste Management Scheme have now effectively been made. In the case of the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS), the current Farmers' Charter does not set out any commitments, but again my Department will endeavour to ensure that processing of applications/payments takes place as speedily as possible.

Over 90 per cent of all valid applications for approval and payment under the Afforestation Scheme are within the targets set out in the Farmers Charter.

Over 90 per cent of all valid applications for approval and payment under the Afforestation Scheme are within the targets set out in the Farmers Charter.

All compensation payments under the TSE Eradication Programmes are processed and paid within the agreed time-frame.

ERAD compensation schemes are processed in compliance with the provisions set out in the Farmers' Charter. I am satisfied that the payment commitments are and will be adhered to by my Department in 2011.