Notice of inspection demanded

LETTERS the next day, or phone calls the night before, were the only notifications some farmers got of Department of Agriculture inspectors arriving to check their compliance with REPS and other schemes.

The increase in part time farming and the uncertainty of postal deliveries have rendered current arrangements for notification of inspections unacceptable to farmers, according to Gerard Gunning, Executive Secretary, IFA Rural Development Committee.

Farmers have made a better notification system one of their priorities in the upcoming review of the Rural Environmental Protection Scheme (REPS).

Farmers at a Co Limerick IFA meeting addressed by Mr Gunning said farms are being inspected without the owner being present, and this was not acceptable. Others complained that farmers who had prior commitments found it very difficult to change inspection dates - but if the farmer wants to call on one of these inspectors, he will have to make an appointment to suit the inspector.

Mr Gunning said IFA will also seek an increase of 15% in REPS payments to farmers.