Vol. 503 No. 7
24 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the percentage of farmers who have availed of the REP scheme; the inspections carried out; the success of the REP scheme to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10891/99]
To date, 40,869 farmers from a total of 147,800 have been approved for REPS which equates to 27.65 per cent. All applications submitted under the scheme are subject to a desk check. There are two main types of on-farm compliance control checks on farmers participating in REPS. Each year 50 per cent of all participants who have completed their first year in the scheme are selected for an on-farm compliance check to ensure applicants have carried out the work specified in their agri-environmental plans and are farming in accordance the agri-environmental specifications. Payment cannot proceed until the compliance inspection has been completed.
Five per cent of all participants are selected for a detailed examination of their agri-environmental plan and a farm visit by a Department inspector. Payment on these applications cannot proceed until this compliance inspection is carried out by the departmental inspectorate.
I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Will he indicate the total amount of money paid out under the REP scheme to date? In light of the percentages given, is the Minister of State satisfied there is an adequate mechanism in place to ensure the scheme is worthy of the moneys allocated and that it has been successful in achieving its objectives?
It is expected that £175 million will be spent on the REP scheme this year. We want at least 50,000 farmers to enter the scheme by the end of the year. The rural environment protection scheme is one of the most successful ever run by the Department. It has been hugely beneficial to farmers, the environment and Ireland's green image. The scheme has been particularly helpful in terms of re-growing hedges and preserving wildlife habitats.
I will now provide the Deputy with some information in respect of the years 1995, 1996 and 1997. There were 195 pre-payment inspections in 1995, 1,163 in 1996 and 1,204 in 1997. There were 5,285 compliance inspections in 1995 and 9,563 in 1996. I do not have the figures for 1998 and 1999. The provisions of the scheme are extremely strict and severe penalties are imposed on people who have directly neglected to adhere to them. The Deputy will be aware, the scheme is part of a policy to promote a reduced use of nitrogen and potash. It has been of great direct benefit not only to farms but also to our rivers and waterways.
Will the Minister disown the way inspections were carried out and penalties imposed by some of his officials in my constituency? A farmer who did not cut back a hedge an extra six inches because he could not get near it with a machine due to bad weather was penalised by a deduction of 10 per cent from his payment. Deputy Johnny Brady, who knows about this case, is nodding his head in agreement. That deduction was extremely unfair. Consultation with the staff in offices should be realistic in respect of applications made and inspections carried out. Will the Minister of State call in his senior officials and examine the penalties imposed which are unrealistic and unfair to small farmers?
I do not like to be specific about any area. In general, the inspectors have been extremely fair. This scheme is 75 per cent EU funded about which we must be extremely careful. It is a good scheme which will expand. The Minister, Deputy Walsh, ensured that will happen in the last round of Agenda 2000 negotiations. I do not doubt what the Deputy said.
The Minister of State's colleague, Deputy Brady, nodded that he agreed with what I said.
I would be surprised if the farmer's payment was deducted on that basis alone. There is a fair appeals system. It is understood by Department officials that if land is wet a farmer cannot get in with a machine to do the work and that rather than destroying more land such hedge growth of six inches would not make much difference. If the Deputy, and Deputy Brady, gives me details of the case I will examine how the appeals body dealt with it.
We need a transfer system for some of the staff.
I agree with the Minister of State that this was one of the best schemes ever introduced. The Minister of State mentioned that £175 million has been made available for the scheme this year. He must remember the farmers' contribution to achieve the targets set out in the REPS is also nearly that amount. It is not a case of just handing out money to every farmer in the country. The resources used by farmers almost amount to that handed out.
I am extremely concerned about dropping the three year derogration. There has been talk about the steady increase in the numbers in the scheme each year, but the number is unlikely to increase to 50,000 because of what is happening. Small farmers will not have the investment ability to build slatted houses before they join the scheme. I appeal to the two Ministers of State present to try to get that derogation reduced from three years to two years or to one year.
I thank the Deputy for his comments in support of the scheme. The Minister has brought forward schemes in the area of pollution grants, which will help small and medium sized farmers.
If they can get in to them.
There is no problem with that.
We will see what happens after the elections.
The Deputy is highly suspicious about them.
I am.
Deputy Connaughton, please allow the Minister to reply.
The Deputy is being extremely cynical. I am surprised by his attitude as it is not in his nature to be cynical. Compliance has been high in respect of REPS. It is in all our interests that all farmers in the scheme comply with its provisions. That will benefit the country. This year 40,000 farmers are participating in it compared to 30,000 last year. That represents an increase of 7,000 farmers participating in the scheme this year and there has been a large increase in the number applying to participate in it.
The Minister should ensure that nobody will be penalised.
Three Deputies are offering. I will call the three Deputies and then hear the Minister of State's reply.
Will the Minister of State ask his inspectors to use commonsense in dealing with cases. I know of a case where small trees were blown down during a storm, but when an inspector viewed the farm he penalised the farmer, who was in hospital at the time undergoing a heart bypass operation, because he maintained the farmer had cut down the trees, which was untrue. Is there a possibility of recruiting more staff for our local office? Many REPS payments have been held up because of a lack of staff in the Navan office.
I thank the Minister of State for his visit to Country Crest in Lusk. I agree with him that REPS has been responsible for a good deal of work. Regarding the hedgerow protection aspect of REPS, will he ensure that planners relax their insistence that inside hedges, which do not affect anyone other than the farmers who wish to retain them, should be cut? Will he take account of the wishes of farmers who do not want inside hedges cut. Some of these hedges have not been cut for decades. It is required under REPS that hedges be cut every five years. Will the Minister of State ask planners to relax that requirement given the environmental criteria under which REPS operates.
The ruling that hedges cannot be cut during a certain period should be lifted as hedges bordering a public road—
They can be cut during the winter.
Farmers should be allowed cut them if they wish.
Does the Deputy hibernate during the winter?
Public safety is a much more important consideration.
Will the Minister of State examine the case of two farmers who are participating in REPS and have been asked to erect a fence up the side of a mountain? The Department has insisted that they must erect such a fence. It would cost them £40,000 to do that and rule out one of the farmers from participating in REPS.
I could not reply to a case about which I do not have information. I will arrange for a senior inspector to examine it.
Deputy Brady has called for more staff in Meath and Deputy Farrelly wants some staff transferred from Meath. There is a conflict between the two Deputies. I will examine the matter raised by Deputy Brady. I wonder who got the timber from the trees that fell.
I was pleased to visit Country Crest in Deputy Sargent's constituency. Inside hedges are not required to be topped; they are required to be shaved up the sides so that they can grow upwards. Outside hedges bordering roads need to be cut in the interest of public safety and to prevent water logging but only the insides of hedges need to be cut so that they can grow fully.
Inside hedges should not be cut.
I thought the Deputy was a member of the Green Party.
I am.
It is only necessary to cut the insides of hedges to ensure they grow upwards.
Like a haircut.
Yes.
The racing industry was mentioned by some Deputies, including Deputy Ring. I am sure he would be interested to know Imperial Call won the Gold Cup at Punchestown today. He was trained in west Cork. I congratulate Ray Hurley, the trainer, and the manager, Mrs. Sarah Lane, a close neighbour and friend of mine. They did great work.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
