I propose to take Questions Nos. 342 and 343 together.
My Department operates a comprehensive appeal mechanism to protect the interest of farmers who have difficulties with inspection findings. This appeal system incorporates the option for the farmer to initially seek to have the inspection outcome reviewed internally by an officer more senior than the inspecting officer. If the farmer remains dissatisfied, the decision can be appealed to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office.
The data relating to cases reviewed internally within the Department is not available in the format requested by the Deputy. However, the average time taken to process these review requests, covering all categories of ground inspections under the Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ Schemes, was 242 days for review requests received in 2011, 195 days for review requests received in 2012 and 136 days for review requests received in 2013. The provisional figure for review requests received in 2014 is 94 days.
The Agriculture Appeals Office has indicated that the data in relation to appeals to that office is not available in the format requested by the Deputy. However, the average time taken to deal with appeals submitted to that office in relation to the schemes listed in the Schedule to the Agriculture Appeals Act 2001 was 92 days in relation to appeals received in 2011, 96 days in relation to appeals received in 2012, 93 days in relation to appeals received in 2013. The provisional figure for appeals received in 2014 is 90 days.