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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 28 Mar 2000

Vol. 516 No. 6

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Ulick Burke

Question:

247 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a split holding (details supplied) has been accepted for two separate payments under the REP scheme [9127/00]

The persons named applied for inclusion in the rural environment protection scheme and the applications have been accepted having complied with the terms and conditions of the scheme.

Ulick Burke

Question:

248 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of REP scheme participants in each district who submitted their 1C form prior to 30 September 1999, 31 October 1999, 30 November 1999, 31 December 1999, 31 January 2000 and 29 February 2000 and have not been paid; the number of compliance inspections that have been taken in each case of non-payment; the number of cases where compliance inspections have yet to be made; his views on whether a serious breach of the Charter of Rights is occurring; and the action, if any, he proposes in this regard. [9128/00]

The following is a nationwide breakdown of REPS cases where a REPS 1C form has been lodged in each of the past six months but payment has not been made. A detailed breakdown by district will be supplied to the Deputy within the next week.

Month

Application 1C

Paid

Paid

Not Paid

Not paid

Lodged

Inspection completed

No inspection required

Selected for Compliance Inspection

Not selected for Compliance Inspection*

September 1999

716

346

311

26

33

October 1999

2,062

879

966

114

103

November 1999

2,941

1,206

1,358

224

153

December 1999

2,921

1,016

1,351

342

212

January 2000

2,527

631

1,188

470

238

February 2000

1,530

167

594

523

246

*All applications for payment are subject to a desk check which may highlight issues which require clarification or resolution before payment can be made. In addition all cases not selected for compliance inspection may be selected at random for a plan and on-farm inspection.
In operating the REP scheme, my Department has to have regard to the need to maintain appropriate standards of monitoring and control. Compliance inspections are a key component of the control systems and payments cannot be made to REPS participants chosen for inspection until they have taken place.
A range of circumstances, including the competing demands on human resources arising from the various schemes and services provided by my Department, can on occasion lead to delays in arranging inspections. My Department remains committed to providing an efficient service for REPS participants while at the same time meeting its responsibilities to appropriately monitor and control the scheme. In this context the matter of staff resource levels within the REPS area is under active examination.
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