Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 430: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of inspections that will take place this year for single farm payment, REP scheme, agri-environment options scheme and disadvantaged areas. [33175/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In the context of delivering the Single Payment Scheme, Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, REPS and AEOS schemes my Department is required to carry out inspections on a number of farms covering such issues as eligibility, compliance with EU regulations under headings such as environment, food safety, animal welfare and plant health.

A minimum of 5% of Single Payment 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 Single Payment Scheme 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. Under the relevant regulations 3% of producers must be inspected under the Bovine Animal Identification and Registration Requirements together with 3% of sheep producers covering 5% of the National flock.

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 the Environment, Community and Local Government. This arrangement was retained for 2011. Of the 30,000 farmers still active in REPS my Department carried out approximately 2,500 inspections in 2011. Under AEOS I approximately 850 inspections were carried out during 2011. The AEOS inspections cover both 2010 and 2011 in respect of the 8,445 valid AEOS participants.

These inspections are, as far as is possible integrated in order to minimise the number of farm visits. For 2011 it is estimated that some 13,500 inspections will be carried out of which some 3,000 are carried out without a farm visit using remote sensing. Some 130,000 farmers apply annually for the Single Farm Payment Scheme, over 100,000 of these also apply for the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, REPS and AEOS. The total value of these schemes to Irish Farmers is worth €1.8billion.