Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 5

Written Answers. - EU Income Support Schemes.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

122 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development his views on whether there is an excessive amount of bureaucracy and form filling for farmers under the EU backed income support schemes; and his proposals regarding this matter. [25069/01]

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

157 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will take steps to ensure that the penalties against farmers for incorrect filling of various forms under the EU backed income support schemes will be substantially reduced; and his proposals regarding this matter. [25070/01]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 157 together.

The application process for the various direct payment schemes has undergone substantial simplification over the past few years. The introduction of printed cattle identification documents – passports – and the use of associated bar-coding has facilitated a very major simplification of the application forms for the special beef premium and suckler cow premium schemes. Farmers are being paid their entitlements under the new slaughter premium scheme without the need for any application. Payment is being made using information held on the Department's computerised database, CMMS. In addition, the process has been further simplified this year by the introduction of the new area based compensatory allowance scheme which replaces five animal based schemes under the old animal based headage regime.

A new IT strategy was produced for my Department last year. This strategy recognises the importance of the effective use of information technology in the delivery of our schemes and services to all of our customers and it sets out a plan for the redevelopment of all the major systems in use in my Department over a five year period. A significant part of this strategy is the re-development of the systems dealing with direct payments to farmers. When redeveloped it is envisaged that the new systems will be capable of being used for direct on-line scheme application submission by farmers.

In so far as penalties and simplification of the CAP generally is concerned, under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness my Department is committed to pressing the European Commission to re-examine the penalty regime with particular reference to exclusion penalties applicable to direct payment schemes and to apply the maximum proportionality in the imposition of all penalties. In this connection the Agriculture Council, at a meeting in October 2000, reaffirmed its commitment to simplification generally including the simplification of the penalty regime. The Commission subsequently set up a working group to look at the whole question of simplification. Ireland is represented on that working group together with other member states. One of the areas which the working group is examining is the question of introducing a new scheme for paying small amounts of aid to

farmers with a maximum total entitlement of 1,250. The group is also examining the regulation governing the integrated administration and control system with particular reference to the impact of penalties. It is expected that the working group will finalise its deliberations in the near future after which a new Commission regulation will be adopted.

Given the overall value of the various direct payments schemes to farmers in Ireland and the fact that these payments are increasing in value following from the successful outcome of the Agenda 2000 negotiations, it is inevitable that the European Commission wish to ensure that reasonable controls and deterrents are in place in the various member states for the operation of the schemes and that this is adequate protection of taxpayers' funds.