The Department of Agriculture also confirmed that a further 850 individuals have applied for registration, with another group having completed the required training but yet to be registered as professional users (PUs).

Cork has the highest number of registered PUs (3,299), followed by Galway (2,628) and Mayo (2,294).

Under the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive, only those who have registered as PU are allowed to spray.

Penalties

Records, equipment, storage and use of spraying are all inspected under cross-compliance, with farmers penalised for any breach in legislation.

Cross-compliance figures for 2015 show that 125 farmers were identified for breaches in relation to spraying, with 79 farmers incurring penalties. Figures for 2016 are expected to be released later this year.

A total of 2,651 farmers were penalised for breaches of all cross-compliance requirements in 2015.

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