The Department of Agriculture has received the results of two thirds of remote-sensing (satellite) inspections carried out in 2018.

It was confirmed to the Irish Farmers Journal that 90% of the 8,000 land-eligibility inspections required as part of EU regulations would be conducted as satellite inspection.

The Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed provided the progress update in response to a parliamentary question from Fianna Fáil’s Eamon Scanlon about efforts being made to issue ANC payments.

Payment stage

The Minister said that of the 66% of cases, three quarters had been processed to the payment stage, with an ANC payment having issued to 73% of those cases.

In addition to land eligibility, ANC payments are also subject to other checks, such as stocking density and stock retention. To date, payments have been issued to over 80,000 farmers in the scheme.

In cases where an over-declaration in area is identified as part of the inspection process, the Minister said his Department would be in contact with the affected applicant.

Satellites to carry out 90% of land eligibility inspections

Inspections and stocking rates delay ANC money for 13,000 farmers

Two thirds of satellite inspection results received by the Department

As ANC payments continue to issue to farmers, the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said that results had been received for 66% of farms selected for a satellite inspection.