Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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545. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the criteria and protocol in place for an inspector from his Department when visiting a farm to carry out an on-farm inspection (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32084/15]

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 an annual round of inspections covering both the eligibility of the land declared to draw down payments and to ensure compliance with Cross Compliance requirements, as set down in EU legislation, in the areas of environment, climate change and good agricultural condition of land, public, animal and plant health and animal welfare. The basis for these inspections is governed by EU legislation and there are certain minimum numbers and types of inspections that must be conducted each year. Rules regarding the advance notification of inspections are clearly laid down in the governing EU regulations and must be adhered to by officials in my Department. The regulations allow the Department to give notice for land eligibility and cross-compliance inspections involving SMRs other than those related to food, feed and animal welfare. However this notice must be strictly limited to the minimum time period necessary and shall not exceed 14 days. For checks involving cattle and sheep identification and registration the maximum advance notice is 48 hours. For SMRs dealing with feed, food and animal welfare no advance notice may be given and these inspections must take place on an unannounced basis. Where it is considered that the purpose or effectiveness of any type of inspection may be jeopardised by giving notice, the inspection will take place on an unannounced basis.

Where extenuating circumstances apply at commencement of the inspection process, officials in my Department will examine the issue of proceeding with the inspection on the day, on a case-by-case basis, taking all of the circumstances outlined into consideration.