Written answers

Thursday, 3 November 2011

Department of Agriculture, Marine and Food

Grant Payments

3:00 pm

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a single farm payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32634/11]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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An application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 25 April 2011, following processing of which over-claims were identified in respect of three land parcels declared by the person named. As this has recently been satisfactorily resolved, the 50% advance payment will issue shortly.

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a REP scheme payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32635/11]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) with effect from 1st November 2010.

Under the EU Regulations governing the 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. During these checks a query arose in relation to the digitisation of a Natura land parcel listed on the AEOS application of the person named. This particular problem is now being addressed with a view to rectifying the digitisation problem and issuing payment as quickly as possible.

Photo of John DeasyJohn Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 138: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the single farm payment has not issued to a person (details supplied); and when payment will issue. [32638/11]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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An application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 11 May 2011, processing of which has recently been completed, thereby allowing payment to issue to the applicant shortly.

Photo of Patrick O'DonovanPatrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application for single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32639/11]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme, received from the person named on 11 May 2011, was the subject of an eligibility inspection by way of Remote Sensing. As this inspection revealed discrepancies, it was necessary to conduct a ground inspection to clarify the position. The application will be further processed immediately the results of the inspection are known, with a view to the appropriate payment issuing shortly thereafter.

Photo of Michael MoynihanMichael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of maps submitted for digitisation with applications for payments to his Department in 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011. [32661/11]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The following table details the estimated numbers of maps submitted by farmers under the Single Payment Scheme, based on an average of two maps per farmer. Farmers submit maps to my Department to facilitate re-digitising, in order to have various ineligible features, such as buildings, roadways, farmyards, etc, properly recorded on my Department's Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS).

As any failings or shortcomings in LPIS would leave Ireland open to the very real risk of significant fines, it is crucial that amendments be made, on an ongoing basis, to accurately reflect the position on the ground. To avoid the possibility of EU fines due to shortcomings in the LPIS system, my Department is encouraging all scheme participants to continue to update their mapping data, as circumstances dictate.

Scheme YearEstimated numbers of maps
200937,096
201084,610
201164,284

The changes made to LPIS on foot of the maps submitted by farmers is one of the three main methods used to update the spatial data, the other two being changes identified during ground and remote sensing inspections and changes identified during my Department's internal review of ortho-photography. In general, approximately 250,000 parcels annually require some amendment.

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare has not received full payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32674/11]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, which gave rise to the overpayment in question, was received by my Department on 7 May 2010. The reason the person named did not receive full payment is that ineligible areas were identified among the areas declared. I can confirm that my Department has a robust system in place for considering all appeals; should the person named lodge an appeal, I can confirm that it will receive swift attention. The person named will be advised of the outcome of any such appeal, in writing, with the reasons for the decision being clearly outlined.

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