Vol. 481 No. 7
140 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the delay in undertaking REP scheme inspections in County Clare; and if he will sanction interim payments prior to inspection to alleviate financial hardship on individual farmers. [16891/97]
Arrangements have been made to ensure that inspections will be dealt with without delay in County Clare.
For initial applications 50 per cent of the REPS aid is paid on acceptance of the application and the balance is paid six months later. These are subject to a 5 per cent minimum pre-payment inspection.
For subsequent payments at least 50 per cent of applications are paid without inspection. There is no provision for interim payments prior to inspection.
143 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his views on whether it is fair that a person (details supplied) in County Limerick has made a considerable financial investment in support of the REP scheme as an organic farmer and is still awaiting payment for the first year scheme and full payments under the second and third year schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16900/97]
The full basic REPS payment for 1995 issued to the applicant in March 1995. Aid in relation to the organic measure is only payable after the completion of the relevant 12 month period of the REPS plan. The applicant's second year application was subject to a compliance check. On foot of that inspection certain problems were identified and my Department wrote to both the applicant and his planner in April 1997 outlining these problems and requesting that a revised plan be submitted. A revised plan was received but when it was examined it was found to be still deficient. Letters seeking to have the deficiencies rectified issued to both the applicant and his planner in September 1997. This application cannot be further processed until a satisfactory plan is received in my Department.
