Vol. 533 No. 5
25 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will accept photographic evidence in lieu of inspections for the purposes of grant approval especially in relation to the control of the farm pollution scheme, in view of the advent of the silage season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9250/01]
The question of carrying out farm visits has been considered along with the other foot and mouth restrictions by an expert group under the chairmanship of Professor Michael Monaghan, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in UCD. The advice of this group to date remains that visits to farms continue to be a high risk activity and that, for the present, only visits deemed to be absolutely necessary should take place. On the basis of this advice, it is not proposed to carry out any farm visits either to inspect completed works or to process new applications for grant aid for on-farm investments. In this context, it is also considered inappropriate to approve works to proceed on farms which would involve the entry of contractors, builders etc. on to the farms. However, the position is being kept under continuous review.
