Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision on an appeal has been processed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5123/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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With regard to the Single Payment Scheme, I can confirm that the person named currently has two appeals ongoing with the Agriculture Appeals Office and has taken the option of an oral hearing. It will be appreciated that, as that Office as a body is statutorily independent of my Department, the outcome of their deliberations must be awaited.

As regards the 2010 Suckler Welfare Scheme, the person named registered 32 animals. The events information submitted indicated that all animals were weaned on 22 October 2010. Under the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme, for herds of more than 10 cows, animals must be weaned in at least 2 separate groups with a minimum interval of 5 days between the removal of the first and last group. The applicant was also deemed ineligible to continue in the Scheme as he did not attend any of the mandatory Training Courses provided for Suckler Welfare applicants.

The applicant was successful at appeal stage for both the weaning and training issues on the basis of further information provided. Following validation, payment issued in respect of thirty animals on 14 November 2012. Errors were identified with the two remaining animals and a letter issued on 30 January 2013 in relation to these animals. Payment cannot be further progressed for these animals until the outstanding issues are resolved.

The applicant registered 13 animals under the 2011 Suckler Welfare Scheme. Payment issued in respect of 12 of these animals on 12 November 2012. A query relating to the remaining animal has since been resolved and payment will issue in the near future.

Only one animal has been registered to date for the 2012 Suckler Welfare Scheme. This animal cannot be considered for payment until the required information is received.