Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2020
672. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the person or body the new land parcel information system Agland is being developed by and in conjunction with; if materials, reports, correspondence or briefings on the system will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19192/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) requires strong evidence-based data on which to design new schemes and for setting and meeting targets. The Integrated Administration & Control System (IACS) requires that scheme applications under the new CAP are monitored using Copernicus sentinel satellite data. This would require the development of a significant land use and area monitoring system by the Department as the EU accredited paying agency for Ireland. It is proposed to integrate these required new systems with the Department’s new Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS). The three components will make up a new corporate AgLand system.
The Department is progressing well with the development and roll-out of the new LPIS. This system will replace the current 25 year old system. Additional specialist ICT resources were required to augment our internal IMT team primarily in the design, development and support of this major ICT system. The services of external contracted resources were procured by availing of open EU procurement processes and a contract was subsequently awarded to Version 1.
The LPIS is the Department’s land database which underpins payments to farmers under area-based schemes such as the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), the Green, Low-Carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme (ANC), afforestation schemes and the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS).
The overall objective is to ensure the most efficient delivery of €1.6 billion of EU-funded scheme payments to applicants, in line with regulatory requirements. The new LPIS will give farmers a more accurate representation of land parcel boundaries and will be based on the most up-to-date technologies and Ordnance Survey Ireland mapping standards.
The new LPIS was first introduced in Louth in 2019 and was rolled out to an additional five counties (Meath, Monaghan, Cavan, Leitrim, and Longford) in 2020 with more counties scheduled for roll-out in 2021. The Department will continue the roll out of the new LPIS on a phased basis over the next two years, with all counties expected to be live in the new system by 2022.
The roll out has been underpinned by a comprehensive communication campaign to help farmers understand the changeover to the new system. This included regular correspondence and a comprehensive statement of land with details of the parcels held by the farmer and the resultant changes to these parcels arising from the move to the new LPIS. In addition, regional public information sessions were hosted by the Department in 2019 to inform farmers, agents and farm bodies of the transition to the new system. However, in line with HSE advice, the information sessions scheduled for March 2020 were cancelled. Further information on the LPIS as well as details relating to frequently asked questions can be found online at: www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmerschemespayments/lpisrebuildproject/
There is also an information line to assist farmers with their queries while current Covid-19 restrictions remain in place. The number is 076 1064468.
