Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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21. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to reform the on-farm inspection regime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18465/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In the context of delivering the Direct Payment Schemes and Rural Development measures my Department is required to carry out on-the-spot inspections covering such issues as eligibility under the Scheme and compliance with Cross Compliance requirements, as set down in EU legislation, and the standards for Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC), in the areas of the environment, climate change and good agricultural condition of land; public, animal and plant health and animal welfare. These inspections are mandatory and there are certain minimum numbers and types of inspections that must take place annually. Eligibility checks, including checks on the eligibility of land declared for aid, must be carried out on at least 5% of applicants. My Department has made every effort to respond to concerns about the impact of on-the-ground inspections on farmers and arising from this some 85% of these inspections are initially carried out without the need for a farm visit,as the information needed is acquired using the technique of remote sensing via satellite.

The rate of inspections for cross-compliance is a minimum of 1% of applicants to whom the Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs) and Good Agricultural Environmental Condition (GAEC) standards apply. However, 3% of farmers must be inspected under the bovine identification and registration requirements while 3% of sheep/goat farmers must be inspected covering 5% of the flock.

These inspections are a necessary requirement in order to draw down approximately €1.6 billion of EU funds annually and to avoid EU disallowances. The inspections are subject to repeated audits by the European Commission, the European Court of Auditors and the Comptroller and Auditor General’s Office and this ensures an independent verification that inspections are conducted in full compliance with the legal requirements.

My Department continuously reviews the inspection process to take account of changes in the governing regulations and also to reflect comments and findings contained in the various audit reports. Inspecting officers in my Department are regularly trained in inspection procedures, with a process of continuous oversight by supervisors and random verification inspections to ensure a consistent approach. In addition, the Inspection Unit participates fully at various meetings and workshops organised by the European Commission, where Commission experts and experts from other EU member states share their knowledge. In this way the Inspection Unit has and continues to build up extensive corporate knowledge on inspection requirements. This ensures that the EU regulatory requirements are being fully met and also that the training of the inspecting officers on inspection procedures is kept up-to-date.

As part of the current consideration of CAP simplification at EU level Ireland has proposed a rationalisation of the inspection regime. Other Member States have done likewise and we hope that progress can be made on this issue when the Commission comes forward with its final simplification proposals in the Autumn.