Vol. 561 No. 3
61 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he has records of REP scheme agreements having being transgressed; the sanctions which are imposed if and when such transgressions occur; if compliance with conditions of REP schemes will be independently assessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4048/03]
My Department conducts on-farm inspections of 25% of REPS participants each year, and for a further 5% it conducts both an on-farm inspection and a full check of their agri-environmental plans. Every participant is inspected at least once during his or her REPS contract. Sanctions for non-compliance with participants' undertakings range from 10% to 100% of a year's payment. Penalties are compounded for repeat offences, and in certain circumstances the scheme conditions provide for my Department to terminate participation and claim back all payments already received. My Department's controls are subject to regular scrutiny by several auditing bodies acting on behalf of both the Government and the European institutions. Full records of inspection results are maintained and are available to these bodies.
