Mr. Paud Evans:

In the 1,000 cases dealt with as part of the balancing payment were 1,000 farmers who had an over-claim established as part of the 2013 LPIS review. The over-claim in these cases was under 2 hectares or under 3% and did not attract penalties. In these cases, there will be a deduction for retrospection for the four years from 2009 to 2012, inclusive. The total amount payable for the four years in question is approximately €1 million, which is €400 per person, or €100 per annum for four years. In relation to all of the other cases that had over-claims in 2013 and warranted retrospection on the basis that having looked at each case individually, we established whether we could find the ineligible feature in a previous photograph or ortho-imagery and if we could not, there was no retrospection. All of that retrospection has been done on the system for the Commission auditors to review when they come. No further decision will be taken about that until the audit is complete.