Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 772: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare has not been facilitated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27293/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The application for the person named has been refused on the grounds that there are cumulative landscape impacts of placing additional forestry in this area and further afforestation is not considered appropriate. In addition the area suffers from significant wind exposure. The person named has been informed of the decision.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 773: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an agri-environment options scheme payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27336/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st November 2010 and 75% payment totalling €546.41 issued in respect of 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. The application was selected for a Cross Compliance inspection which resulted in a penalty being imposed. The cross compliance penalty, in this case 5%, will be deducted from the balancing payment which will issue shortly.

Payments in respect of the 2011 scheme year are subject to a similar administrative checking process. Following the payment of year 1, the administrative checking process in respect of year 2 will be completed.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 774: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made on a organic farming scheme application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27352/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named submitted an application for the Organic Framing Scheme on 16 May 2012. During the initial processing of the application discrepancies were discovered regarding the status of land parcels listed on the application form. These discrepancies have now been rectified. However, a further query has arisen in relation to the issue of the organic licence which is a condition of participation in the scheme. The Department is awaiting confirmation from the Organic Control Body, with whom the person named is registered, that his organic licence is now in order. Once resolved, the application of the person named will be processed without further delay.

Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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Question 775: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department will issue a response to a person (details supplied) in County Cork regarding an AEOS 2 application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27360/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named submitted an application form for the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme on 16th May 2011 having completed the Form N option.

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 this checking process it was discovered that the person named was an active participant in the Rural Environment Protection Scheme and were accordingly ineligible for the AEOS scheme. Officials in my Department rejected the application as the scheme Terms and Conditions had not been complied with. A letter issued to the person named on 12th March 2012 setting out this decision and providing the person named with an option to submit an appeal. An appeal was received in AEOS Section on 10th April 2012. This appeal is currently under review and once a decision has been made the person named will be notified of the outcome.