Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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234. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will expedite an agri-environment option scheme 2 payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23273/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1st September 2011 and has received full payment totalling €1,319.00 in respect of 2011.

Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme, a comprehensive administrative check of all applications, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. The person named was selected for a ground inspection which took place on 15th November 2012. During this inspection, areas of non-compliance with the terms and condition of the scheme were noted in relation to the Natura option which will result in a penalty being imposed. On 7th February 2013, a letter issued to the person named outlining the nature of the penalty and the appeal option. To date, no appeal has been received by officials in my Department. Accordingly the application will now be processed for payment on the basis of the inspection findings.