In operating the REP scheme, which is 75% co-funded by the EU, my Department has to have regard to the need to maintain appropriate standards of monitoring and control. Pre-payment, 5%, inspections are a key component of the control systems, and payments can not be made to REPS participants chosen for inspection until an inspection has taken place. Where a pre-payment inspection is required, an application cannot be considered to be valid until such time as the inspection has taken place and any issues arising have been satisfactorily resolved.
A range of circumstances, including the competing demands on human resources arising from the various schemes and services provided by my Department, can on occasion lead to delays in arranging inspections. My Department remains committed to providing an efficient service for REPS participants while at the same time meeting its responsibilities to appropriately monitor and control the scheme. In this context the matter of staff resource levels within the REPS area is under active examination.
