Written answers

Tuesday, 4 November 2014

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Single Payment Scheme Administration

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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425. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of single farm payment applications which have been selected for satellite inspection in 2014; the number of these applications which were eligible for DAS; the number which have been cleared for payment under each scheme; the number pending under each scheme; the number under each scheme which have thrown up anomalies of less than 3% and greater than 3%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41453/14]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department , in the context of delivering the Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ Scheme, and other area based schemes, is required to carry out an annual round of inspections, both in the field and by means of Remote Sensing, to ensure the eligibility of land declared to drawdown payments. The basis of these inspections is governed by EU legislation and there are minimum numbers that must be conducted each year.Land eligibility checks must be carried out on at least 5% of applicants. In response to concerns about the impact of on-the-ground inspections on farmers, 6,715 cases or some 85% of the required 2014 inspections are initially being carried out without the need for a farm visit as the information needed is acquired using the technique of remote sensing via satellite.

The EU Regulations governing Remote Sensing inspectionsalso require that where it is notpossible to make an accurate determination on the eligibility of a parcel or parcels of land by means of an assessment of the available satellite imagery, a field inspection must be undertaken to verify the eligibility of the land.

My Department continues, on a daily basis, to process outstanding applications (including inspection cases) to finalisation with the intention of issuing any payments due as soon as possible.The following tables detail the data requested in relation to inspections, payments, etc.

2014 Single Payment Scheme

Total Selected for Satellite Inspection Total Paid to Date Total Finalised & Payment to issue this week

Total being Processed to Finalisation
6,57 5
3,942
1,132
1,501


2014 Disadvantaged Areas’ Scheme
Total Selected for Satellite Inspection Total Paid to Date Total Finalised & Payment to issue this week

Total being Processed to Finalisation
5,728 2,183 1,074 2,471 *


*Note- Of the total number of cases being processed to finalisation, 1,065 cases have specific DAS related issues outstanding, e.g. failure to meet stocking density requirements , etc.

The following tables detail the data requested in relation to reductions.

2014 Single Payment Scheme
Total Paid/Payment to issue this week - Reduction Less than 3% Total Paid/Payment to issue this week - Reduction Greater than 3%
702
290


2014 Disadvantaged Areas’ Scheme
DAS Land Type/

Crop Group Category
Total Paid /Ready for Payment - Reduction Less than 3% * * Total Paid /Ready for Payment - Reduction Greater than 3% * *
Mountain Type Grazing 12 5 8 6
More Severely Handicapped 246 8 2
Less Severely Handicapped 48 2 3


* * Note– As different aid rates apply to the different Crop Group Categories within DAS, reductions are applied at individual crop group category. An individual applicant may incur a reduction in one or more Crop Group Categories

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