Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when payment in respect of agri-environment options scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15957/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named has been approved into the AEOS scheme with a start date of the 1 November 2010.

Under the EU Regulations governing the Agri-Environment Options Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. I expect that payments to participants in the scheme in respect of the first year will commence in August and that payments in respect of year two will commence in October. I am working with my officials to bring the payments forward if at all possible.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 173: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Cavan may expect to have their milking parlour inspected to receive payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15978/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named is an applicant under the Farm Improvement Scheme. A Department official will carry out a farm inspection shortly and provided that the investment works satisfy the terms and conditions of the Scheme, the application will be processed for payment.

Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when an appeal against penalties incurred under the REP scheme will be heard in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16054/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The persons named commenced REPS 4 in May 2009 and received full payment in respect of year 1.

Following an inspection, the persons named were informed on 22 December 2010 that their REPS 4 application was to be terminated due to non-compliance with scheme terms and conditions in relation to land issues. Full recoupment of all monies paid was sought.

The applicants were unsuccessful in their appeal to my Department and subsequently appealed this decision to the Agriculture Appeals Office. Documentation relating to this appeal was received by my Department on 19th May 2011. This documentation is under review by the officer dealing with the case and the file will be returned to the Agriculture Appeals Office for its decision within seven working days.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 175: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the status of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [16064/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named applied for approval to plant under the Afforestation Scheme in 1997, at which time he declared on his application that he was a non-farmer. Because of legal issues regarding title, payment in respect of this application was not made until 2009. In the intervening period he had made a further application in 2000 for a separate area under the Afforestation Scheme where he declared himself to be a part-time farmer and provided evidence to that effect. This application was approved for payment at the farmer rate of premium.

Following payment of the application in 2009, the person named then contended that he was a farmer at the time of the application in 1997. In August 2009 an appeal against the decision to award him the non-farmer rate of forestry premium was submitted on his behalf. The Appeal Committee upheld the decision that the non-farmer rate of premium should apply, in the absence of substantive and satisfactory evidence to prove otherwise. Since that decision, the person named submitted further material to substantiate his contention that he was a farmer at the time of his application. However, my Department is not satisfied that the information supplied gives the necessary assurance for it to be able to revise the decision made on appeal. If there is further substantive evidence that the person concerned can submit in support of his contention that he was a farmer when making this application, my Department will review the decision in his case.

Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in respect of REP scheme payment; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a commitment was given more than three weeks ago that a person would be put in place to sign off on payments which are left aside due to retirement of senior personnel who signed off on such applications. [16072/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named commenced REPS 4 in October 2009 and has received full payment in respect of year 1. My officials have approved payment in respect of year 2 and this will issue within 10 working days.

Following the retirement of an official in my Department dealing with the approval of REPS payments in the local office concerned, arrangements have now been made to deploy staff in order to ensure that all REPS files for farmers in the area concerned will be dealt with as quickly as possible.

Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the annual recoupment relating to a penalty imposed under the single farm payment will be significantly reduced to allow a person (details supplied) in County Galway to make a living. [16076/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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A debt of €45,208.16 was notified in April 2009 to recover forestry grants and premiums paid to the person named. This debt has been partially recovered from other scheme payments leaving a current balance of €17,423.51. As advised to the Deputy's office, my Department will consider an extended repayment period in cases of hardship and the person named should write to the Forestry Division, Johnstown Castle Estate, Wexford outlining the circumstances and any proposals for repayment of the remaining balance.