Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 April 2015
364. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 142 of 26 March 2015, if he will explain the difference between verification visits and land parcel verification, and on-the-spot checks which are specifically defined under European Union regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15525/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraEU regulations governing the Direct Payments Schemes requires my Department to carry-out administrative and on-the-spot checks to ensure that the land declared for aid is eligible for payment. The regulations further require that a minimum of 5% of applicants must be inspected each year. These on the spot checks or inspections are undertaken by means of physical inspection in the field or by means of using the technique of remote sensing via satellite and both involve a check on all parcels declared for aid by the applicant. A verification visit involves the inspection in the field of an individual parcel or parcels of land where it has not been possible to verify the eligibility of the parcel(s) as part of an administrative or remote sensing check.
