Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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240. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an agri-environment option scheme 2 payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23561/13]

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 75% payment totalling €849.93 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 also was selected for a ground inspection which took place on 8th May 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 resulted in a penalty being imposed. The person named was informed of the nature of the penalty and the appeal options and as no appeal has been received, the application has been processed for payment on the basis of the inspection findings and the balancing 25% payment (net of penalty) will issue shortly.

Payments in respect of the 2012 Scheme year are subject to a similar administrative checking process which includes verification of capital investments through checks on receipts. These checks have now been completed and following the payment for 2011, the payment in respect of 2012 will be finalised.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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241. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason there has been a continued delay with the issuance of agri-environment option scheme payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23564/13]

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.

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 also selected for a ground inspection which took place on 11th May 2012. During this inspection, areas of non-compliance with the terms and condition of the scheme were noted in relation to the Planting of New Hedgerow and Tree Planting – Standard options which resulted in a penalty of 20% being imposed. The person named was informed of the nature of the penalty and the appeal option and as no appeal has been received, the application has been processed for payment on the basis of the inspection findings and payment (net of penalty) in respect of 2011 will issue shortly.

Payments in respect of the 2012 Scheme year are subject to a similar administrative checking process. Following payment for the 2011 scheme year, the 2012 application will be finalised.