Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department train persons dealing with farmers on the way to handle the situation of they are presented with a person who is suffering from reading difficulties or dyslexia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47567/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department is required, under EU legislation governing the Single Payment Scheme, to provide for an advisory system for farmers on land and farm management, know as the Farm Advisory System (FAS). The advisory system must cover the Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs) and Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) associated with the cross-compliance regime. In this regard, my Department is currently in the process of providing training for both existing and new FAS advisors on cross compliance, including any updates to regulatory requirements. As this training deals specifically with the requirements of the cross compliance regime, as such, it does not lend itself to including training on issues arising from reading difficulties or dyslexia.

Nonetheless, my Department actively provides assistance in this area in that it has responded to the concerns of farmers with dyslexia by publishing the terms and conditions document for the 2012 Single Payments Scheme in larger print. An audio version of the terms and conditions document has also been made available on CD. These can be found on the Department’s website or can be posted on request. The Department’s website also has the “BrowseAloud” facility to read web pages aloud for people with literacy and visual impairments.

Department officials are also available in all regions to provide assistance to applicants who have questions or concerns on any scheme operated by the Department. The 2012 terms and conditions document provides details of telephone numbers and other contact details. On a more general level, my Department has two Access Officers and an Inquiry Officer in accordance with section 26(2) of the Disability Act 2005. Access Officers are a point of contact for people with disabilities wishing to access Department services.