Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 December 2004
393 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the projected number of his officials who carried out farm inspections under the single farm payment scheme and under good farming practice respectively in 2005; the projected numbers under each category at local authority level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33102/04]
View answerMy Department, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Environmental Protection Agency, local authorities and others are in discussions regarding the approach to be taken in respect of on-the-spot control checks under the new single farm payment scheme. Inspections under the scheme will commence during 2005. It is not possible at this stage to indicate the number of staff required for this purpose.
The area based compensatory allowance scheme, under which controls relating to good farming practice are operated, is administered exclusively by the Department of Agriculture and Food, without involvement of my Department or local authorities.
