Written answers

Tuesday, 29 September 2020

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Land Parcel Identification System

Photo of Ruairi Ó MurchúRuairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1022. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the land parcel identification system in County Louth. [27010/20]

Photo of Ruairi Ó MurchúRuairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1023. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applicants that have had payments delayed due to issues in relation to the land parcel identification system in County Louth. [27011/20]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1022 and 1023 together.

The Department is progressing well with the development and rollout of the new Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS).  The LPIS is the Department’s land database which underpins payments to farmers under area-based schemes such as the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), the Green, Low-Carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme (ANC), afforestation schemes, and the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS). The new LPIS is replacing the current 25 year old system.  

The overall objective is to ensure the most efficient delivery of €1.6 billion of EU funded scheme payments to applicants, in line with regulatory requirements.  The new LPIS gives farmers a more accurate representation of land parcel boundaries, and is based on the most up-to-date technologies and Ordnance Survey Ireland mapping standard. 

It was first introduced in Louth in 2019 and the roll out in Louth is now complete.  Rollout out to an additional five counties (Meath, Monaghan, Cavan, Leitrim, and Longford) is ongoing in 2020. Additional counties are on target to go live in the new system in 2021. 

In terms of payments in Louth based on the new LPIS, over 99.9% of cases in Louth have been paid their 2019 BPS. One case remains unpaid.  This is in line with the national average.  In mid-September, my Department commenced advance payments under the 2020 ANC scheme with €187m having now issued to over 87,000 farmers.  This is significantly ahead of payment rates for this stage in 2019 and payments in Louth are progressing in line with the national average.  Advance payments under the 2020 BPS are due to commence on 16 October, which is the earliest date allowed under EU Regulation.

Photo of Ruairi Ó MurchúRuairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1024. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if additional resources are being considered in relation to the roll out of the land parcel identification system in identified counties. [27012/20]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Department is progressing well with the development and rollout of the new Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS).  The LPIS is the Department’s land database which underpins payments to farmers under area-based schemes such as the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), the Green, Low-Carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme (ANC), afforestation schemes, and the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS). The new LPIS is replacing the current 25 year old system.

The overall objective is to ensure the most efficient delivery of €1.6 billion of EU funded scheme payments to applicants, in line with regulatory requirements.  The new LPIS gives farmers a more accurate representation of land parcel boundaries, and is based on the most up-to-date technologies and Ordnance Survey Ireland mapping standard. 

It was first introduced in Louth in 2019 and was rolled out to an additional five counties (Meath, Monaghan, Cavan, Leitrim, and Longford) in 2020. Additional counties are on target to go live in the new system in 2021. 

The roll out has been underpinned by a comprehensive communication campaign to help farmers understand the changeover to the new system.This included regular correspondence and a comprehensive statement of land with details of the parcels held by the farmer, and the resultant changes to these parcels arising from the move to the new LPIS.  In addition, regional public information sessions were hosted by the Department in 2019 to inform farmers, agents and farm bodies of the transition to the new system.  However, in line with HSE advice, the information sessions scheduled for March 2020 were cancelled.

Resources are in place and are subject to ongoing review and refinement, as appropriate to ensure an efficient and timely transition of all counties to the new system by 2022.

Further information on the LPIS as well as details relating to frequently asked questions can be found online at:

www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmerschemespayments/lpisrebuildproject/

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