Vol. 542 No. 5
213 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason consultants, farmers and local office staff are being given no guidance, assistance, flexibility or discretion in the day-to-day operations of the new farm schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24807/01]
I totally reject the assertion that consultants, farmers and local office staff are given no guidance, assistance, flexibility or discretion in the day-to-day operation of new farm schemes. Whenever major new schemes are being launched, my Department takes steps to provide information and advice for farmers, their professional advisers and staff in the Department's local offices so as to ensure that the schemes will operate smoothly. Depending on what is needed, the steps taken include published help-sheets and guidelines, information meetings for farmers, training sessions and seminars for agricultural consultants and training for departmental staff. When application forms, scheme documents and help-sheets are being drafted, the farming organisations are consulted to ensure that the documents are as simple and easily understood as possible. Staff in local offices get comprehensive instructions on the operation of those schemes in which they are involved. Regular briefing sessions are held to sort out any problems and monitor progress in processing applications. Departmental staff have flexibility and discretion in the operation of schemes, but they must at all times work within the terms of the schemes and of the EU regulations under which most of the Department's schemes are operated.
Farmers applying for REPS have to engage the services of planners, who may either be employed by Teagasc or be in private practice. All such planners are approved and trained by my Department. The conditions and specifications of the new REP scheme were circulated to all approved planning agencies, and my Department arranged a series of introductory seminars for planners to coincide with the launch of the scheme at the end of November 2000. Virtually all REPS planners attended. Training courses for suitably qualified individuals wishing to establish their own planning agencies are also organised and presented by my Department. One such course was run in June last and another is planned for the end of this month. These seminars and courses are provided free of charge by my Department. My Department is currently engaged in a series of meetings with Teagasc and private planners to review the operation of the new REP scheme and identify issues on which planners may require further guidance.
