Derek Nolan
Question:108. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount expended on the farmers' charter of rights to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41926/15]
View answerWednesday, 25 November 2015
Questions (108)
Written answers
A Farmers' Charter Review Group was set up in 2014 with a view to agreeing a new Farmers' Charter of Rights. The Farmers' Charter Review Group was chaired by an Assistant Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and comprised of senior Department officials and representatives of the main farmer representative organisations.
Following on from positive engagement by all parties, negotiations between my Department and the main farming organisations on a new Farmers' Charter of Rights concluded on Thursday 11 June 2015 with consensus achieved on the Charter.
The Farmers' Charter of Rights is effectively an agreement between my Department and the main farming organisations on improving the standards and delivery targets for the Department's schemes and services, including on-farm inspections, and brings clarity to the arrangements around inspections. The Charter sets out, in very clear language, the timelines, application, payment and appeals processes and is a very useful reference for farmers.
The new Charter will remain in place until 2020 coinciding with the lifetime of the current Pillar I and Pillar II schemes.
The total expenditure in respect of the Farmers' Charter Review Group was €1,896.
A Farmers' Charter of Rights Monitoring Committee has now been established under an independent chair to monitor agreed targets and standards. This Committee is comprised of representatives of the farm organisations and staff of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The total expenditure to date in respect of the Farmers' Charter of Rights Monitoring Committee is €599.
The above expenditure figures are in respect of room hire for meetings, teas/coffees & biscuits for meetings and the fee paid to the Chairman (fee paid to the Chairman for the Monitoring Committee only). The figures provided do not take account of the salary costs for staff involved in the Review Group and Monitoring Committee.