Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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361. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied with the satellite inspection regime as used in mapping for the purpose of identifying non-forage areas under disadvantaged area scheme and SPS schemes; the reason for the delay in clearing maps in view of the fact that applications were received in May; if he has concerns that there is an over zealous inspection regime at play; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48038/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In order to ensure the successful delivery of approximately €1.7 billion of EU monies under the Single Payment Scheme, Disadvantaged Areas' Scheme and other area based schemes, my Department is required to carry out an annual round of inspections covering the eligibility of the land declared to draw down payments. The basis for these checks is clearly laid down in the governing EU Regulations and there are certain minimum numbers and types of inspections that must take place annually.

Land eligibility checks must be carried out on at least 5% of applicants. These checks are carried out to verify that the actual area claimed in the application form corresponds to the area farmed and to ensure that any ineligible land or features are not included for aid purposes. With improving technology and in the interests of efficient use of limited recourses, and also in accordance with the governing EU legislation, the emphasis under the eligibility inspection programme has been to move towards the increased use of 'Remote Sensing', based on satellite imagery. In many cases this removes the need for an on farm visit by Department officials.

In the current year, of the overall 7,500 eligibility inspections scheduled, some 75% are being done by means of Remote Sensing. Remote Sensing inspections may give rise to follow-up ground inspections, where it has not been possible to determine definitively the eligibility of certain land features (e.g. scrub). In these cases the results obtained are used, in combination with the clear satellite imagery, to finalise the eligibility inspection of the entire areas declared. It is also standard procedure, that, a Ground Inspection is carried out by my Department to verify the outcome of the Remote Sensing inspections which result in the application of a penalty.

My Department, in accordance with EU rules, determines the SPS applications selected each year for eligibility inspections including the areas of the Country where satellite imagery will be used. The satellite imagery used for Remote Sensing inspections is supplied to my Department by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre. It is subsequently examined, in accordance with the governing rules, by a specialist service provider contracted for this purpose by my Department. I am satisfied that the Remote Sensing inspection regime described above is as required by the EU and is implemented in a fair and balanced manner by officials in my Department.

As regards the clearing of maps received by my Department, I would point out that in early 2013 my Department circulated maps to all applicants under the 2013 SPS asking that these be examined and updated as necessary. Many farmers returned amended maps to my Department as part of their SPS application process to facilitate re-digitising, in order to have various ineligible features, such as buildings, roadways, farmyards, etc, properly recorded on the LPIS. The necessary amendments are made, on an ongoing basis, to accurately reflect the position on the ground.

I do not accept that there is any delay in completing the work required to successfully update and clear these cases. It must be remembered that under EU rules, the earliest permissible date for payment under the Single Payment Scheme is actually the 1st of December. This year I made a special case to the European Commission securing agreement to make an advance payment of 50% from 16^th October. Since payments under the Single Payment Scheme started on 16 October, €582 million has issued to over 115,000 farmers. This equates to some 93% of all eligible applicants. In addition, payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced, on target, on 22 September and, to date, payments worth over €178 million have issued to over 84,000 farmers.

It is not possible under legislation governing the payment of aid under the area based schemes to make payment in cases that are not fully processed and clear. I have prioritised the resolution of outstanding cases and can also confirm that arrangements are well advanced to allow balancing payments under the Single Payment Scheme commence issuing on target, as and from 1 December.