Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I do not have an exact percentage breakdown between the reasons for the different types of penalty imposed. We will carry out a scoping exercise and provide the results to the Deputy. We did not have the time to gather that information in the time available as there is pressure to make payments in the REPS area.

By and large the farmer undertakes to comply with a number of conditions of the scheme. The penalties cover breach of scheme requirements, for example, not undertaking work signed up to or failing to complete the term of the contract and other issues such as late submission of payment claims. It is unusual but that actually happens.

Having spoken to officials towards the end of November last year I learned we had sent out a card that only had to be signed and sent back. We want to have the money sent out before the end of the year. We had to send out reminders to people and had to put a notice in the newspapers asking them to help us. We said we had the money, wanted to pay it and asked that the documentation be returned. It is not the most onerous task to return a payment claim. We will try to obtain for the Deputy, through a scoping exercise, the types of penalties that exist. At times an inspection will take place and the inspector will ask the person in question to rectify something that is relatively minor.

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