Vol. 548 No. 4
15 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the steps he is taking to reduce the levels of bureaucracy in farming, in particular for farmers who wish to participate in the various schemes; if he will consider putting in place a departmental unit in each county to help screen these applications prior to submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4941/02]
My Department has quality of service and responding to customer needs as an operational priority in all its activities. It is fully committed to providing services in an efficient, effective and user-friendly manner. The protocol on direct payments to farmers published in agreement with the social partner farm organisations in July 2000 contains specific commitments as regards delivery of payments and achievements of these commitments is continually monitored. In general, the targets set out in the protocol have been met by my Department and the payment system is recognised as one of the most efficient in Europe.
The Department's customer service action plan 2001-2004 expands the commitments undertaken in the protocol to include other schemes and services administered by my Department. Among the action points in the plan is a commitment to the use of clear and simple language in forms and information leaflets, the setting up of regional customer panels in order to get feedback from individual farmers on various aspects of service delivery, and to continue to extend the use of electronic data to reduce form filling by our customers.
I am well aware of the difficulties faced by some in completing the paperwork required under many schemes. For this reason, I succeeded in getting the Council of Agriculture Ministers to reaffirm its commitment to simplification. As a result, a new EU regulation on scheme controls and penalties has been adopted and I am satisfied that the changes being introduced will be of considerable benefit to farmers.
I have this week launched a guide to the recent changes in the livestock and arable aid schemes. A copy of this guide is being posted to every herdowner in the country. An extensive series of information meetings explaining these changes will take place throughout the country over the next few weeks. The guide and information meetings are intended to assist farmers in maximising their entitlements to premia and avoiding penalties.
