Basic Payment Scheme Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 November 2015

Wednesday, 4 November 2015

Ceisteanna (83)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

83. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications under the basic payment scheme that were listed for a remote satellite inspection; when the inspection took place; the reason this data has yet to be returned to his Department; if it is acceptable that farmers should have their payments delayed due to administrative delays in performing such inspections, given that the contractor and his Department had in excess of three months to complete them; if he will release a partial payment to farmers, given that these delays are completely outside of their control; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38540/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

EU Regulations governing the Basic Payment Scheme requires my Department to carry out administrative checks to verify that the eligibility conditions for aid have been met. The regulations also require that these administrative checks be supplemented by on-the-spot checks, i.e. ground and/or remote sensing inspections. Furthermore the regulations state that payments due under the Direct Payment schemes shall not be made before the verification of the eligibility conditions have been finalised. In submitting an application under the Direct Payment Schemes and other area-based schemes, an applicant agrees to comply with the conditions of these schemes. In order to reduce the number of on farm inspections and to remove the need for an initial farm visit my Department has moved to increase the use of remote sensing inspections using satellite imagery. In 2015 6,805 cases were selected for inspection remotely. All 6,805 cases been initiated. Approximately 5,000 have been concluded and any payments due following application verification checks have issued. It is my Department’s intention to finalise all outstanding remote sensing cases as soon as possible.

Where an individual application has been selected for a remote sensing inspection no payment can issue to the applicant until the inspection has been completed and the results are fully processed. EU regulations do not allow partial payments for these cases.