Vol. 493 No. 4
91 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 153, 154 and 155 of 16 June 1998, he will name the planning agencies listed (details supplied); his views on whether the 5 per cent REP scheme audits must be fair and seen to be fair in this regard; and if the number of 5 per cent audits carried out to-date per planning agency will be made available. [16444/98]
I am arranging to forward to the Deputy a copy of my Department's list of planning agencies approved for certifying agri-environmental plans under the REP scheme, along with a breakdown of 5 per cent inspections conducted to date on a planning agency basis. As pointed out in my reply to Questions Nos. 153, 154 and 155 of 6 June 1998 cases for checking are selected centrally on a monthly basis at random from the list of applicants who are due payments. My Department is examining the selection procedures in the interest of focusing on specific problems areas and of ensuring the most effective operation of the REPS controls.
