Willie Penrose
Question:79 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the plans he has to establish an independent FEOGA payments agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18792/01]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
My Department's FEOGA operations – direct payments to farmers under the headage, premia and compensatory schemes, accompanying measures REPS and early retirement scheme and export refund and intervention payments to processors and traders – have been brought together into one operational unit to be called the agriculture payments office which is dedicated solely to the efficient delivery of payment services. Most of the required restructuring in terms of staff deployment and reporting arrangements have been completed. The office will have the autonomy to ensure focused and cost-effective management of the funds in question, reconciling the need to provide a quality service to farmers and rigorous accountability for the funds under its control.