Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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529. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason certain farm payments were delayed with the reason of digitisation of records given despite his predecessor's commitment that this would not reoccur after 2015; his views on whether it is fair that farmers are left waiting for their entitlement; his further views on whether the digitisation of records should be carried out well in advance of grants due to be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32031/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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 Each year farmers in Ireland benefit from funding of over €1.5 billion under Schemes such as the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme (ANC) and The Green, Low-Carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS). The EU Regulations governing the administration of these area based schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative eligibility checks, including in some cases either ground or remote sensing (satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue.

Eligibility checks are required to ensure that the actual area claimed in the application form corresponds to the area farmed by the applicant, that there are no dual claims of land, and that ineligible land or features are not included for aid purposes. Where ineligible land or features are identified as a result of any of the eligibility checks these areas must be mapped on the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS). In addition, where applicants under these schemes submit details of amendments to land being declared, either to add additional land or to exclude ineligible land/features, my Department must process these amendments on the LPIS.

The processing relating to both applicants requests for amendments and the outcome of the administrative and inspections checks ensures that the LPIS is accurately maintained. The updating of LPIS is a critical element underpinning payments under the Direct Payment Schemes and my Department must ensure, under EU Regulations, that it is accurate and up-to-date. In addition, the eligibility checks are required to protect the annual drawdown of the EU funds and to avoid disallowances.

At present, advance payments under the BPS have issued to over 113,000 farmers while ANC payments have issued to over 83,000 farmers. Ireland is amongst the first Member States to make advance payments under the BPS and has made such payments each year sine 2006. 

There is currently no delay in the digitising of maps arising from query cases or eligibility checks other than cases which are the subject of ongoing correspondence between the farmer and my Department.  The completion of all digitising of maps and the clearance of applications for payments remains a key priority for my Department.  Accordingly, regular pay runs are in place for BPS and the ANC scheme to process cases for payments as they become clear.