Over a third of inspection appeal decisions submitted by farmers for review in 2017, are yet to be completed by the Department of Agriculture.

The figure marks a startling jump from the previous year, where just 9% of cases were left to be reviewed by the end of 2016.

In 2016, just under half of appeals were fully or partially revised in favour of a farmer by the Agriculture Appeals Office or Department, while figures are yet to become available for 2017.

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Out of the number of decisions submitted by farmers for review, only 32% of cases saw a full or partial change to an original decision last year, while in 2016 just 33% saw a change.

The Department inspection process came under the spotlight last year, after it was discovered that farmers in north Tipperary received an undue level of inspections and penalties in comparison to other counties.

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