Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1530. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding sheep inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25103/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, 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 on a number of farms covering such issues as eligibility under the Scheme and compliance with Cross Compliance requirements, as set down in EU legislation, 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 under the legislation there are certain minimum numbers and types of inspections that must take place annually.

With regard to sheep identification and registration inspections, my Department is required to inspect a minimum of 3% of sheep farmers, which in turn must cover 5% of the National sheep flock. In practice, my Department will only carry out the minimum number of inspections in this area as required under the relevant legislation. Furthermore my Department also endeavours to minimise the number of ‘farm visits’ as much as possible by ‘stacking’ Animal IDR inspections on eligibility inspection cases, where this is feasible.