North Tipperary farmers targeted for inspections

Farmers in north Tipperary and east Clare are being inspected and penalised more frequently by the Department of Agriculture than farmers elsewhere.

Now chair of Tipperary North IFA Tim Cullinan wants to know why.

Hitherto unseen figures show that the Department’s Nenagh office carried out an average of 321 inspections in each of the six years to 2015 compared with 299 annually for all other offices.

More significantly, the inspections in north Tipperary resulted in more penalties. Nationally, one-third of the farmers inspected were penalised – but of the north Tipperary/east Clare farmers inspected, over half got a penalty.

Further, the average penalty was higher for these farmers. Nationally the average penalty applied over the six years was €880 – for them it was €1,303.

These figures support claims made by farmers in Tipperary in recent years. A number of farmers approached Tim Cullinan with their concerns. He sought information on penalty levels from the Department of Agriculture but could not obtain them.

After four months of searching, he enlisted the help of a local representative who got the above figures directly from the Department of Agriculture.

“I would like an explanation from the Department for the high level of penalties on farmers in this area,” Cullinan said.

“The penalties in the past six years amounted to €1.28m. It’s not acceptable given that direct payments can make up 100% of family farm income. I accept that there has to be inspections – but most farmers are genuinely doing their best to comply with rules.”

Court case

Tipperary farmer Michael O’Connor – who ironically farms near Nenagh – last year won a High Court case against a Department of Agriculture 100% penalty decision and was awarded a refund of €124,431 Single Farm Payment plus €10,000 interest. The Department was ordered to pay his legal costs of over €300,000. It is appealing the verdict.

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