Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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440. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway was given a penalty during an on-farm inspection for failing to return a sheep census form when at the time he had no sheep; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28941/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In order to comply with EU requirements, the applicant was selected for a Cross Compliance inspection in 2012, which took place on the 20^th of December 2012. The inspection recorded breaches in relation to sheep identification and registration requirements (sheep census details not submitted to the database in respect of 2010, at a time when there was evidence that the applicant had sheep). As a result, a penalty of 1% was recorded. The applicant was notified to this effect on 12^th February 2013.

The applicant requested a review of this decision and the outcome of the review, which was to uphold the original decision, was notified by letter dated 24^th May 2013. The applicant was also advised of the right to appeal the outcome of the review to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office, within 3 months of the date of the review letter. My Department understands that no such appeal has been lodged to date. However this option remains open to the applicant.