Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 454: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason the claimed areas of land for forestry have now been reduced on being digitised in view of the fact that the land was properly measured in the first instance; if she will explain this discrepancy in view of the fact that a number of people have been affected by this and are concerned about the principle of the matter; the reason her Department is now reducing forestry premium payments as a result of this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3960/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Following the introduction of new mapping technology, my Department became aware that the area of some forest plantations currently in receipt of premium payment had been incorrectly calculated. In many cases, the difference is negligible, but there are other cases where more significant over-claims have occurred.

This type of discrepancy can happen when different mapping technologies are used. However, my Department is obliged by EU regulation to ensure that it does not continue to over-pay in any instance where it knows that the claim is too high. Where it identifies such cases, my Department writes to the beneficiary advising that there appears to be an overclaim, encloses a map of the correct area and invites the beneficiary to indicate whether they disagree with the new area.

All such claims will be paid on the correct basis, going forward, but my Department will not seek a recoupment of any over-payments made in previous years, except where it is clear that this is due to a deliberate intention to mislead.