Written answers

Thursday, 13 June 2013

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Agriculture Schemes Administration

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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178. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details of all penalties across all schemes imposed on a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the schemes involved; the reasons for the penalties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28530/13]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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179. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details of all overpayments paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the amount of these overpayments deducted from payments due; the amount still remaining to be repaid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28531/13]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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180. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of inspections carried out on a farm (details supplied) in County Galway in the past five years; the date of each inspection; the reason for the inspection; the sanctions imposed as a result of each inspection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28532/13]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 to 180, inclusive, together.

In summary, during the years 2008 – 2012, the holding of the person concerned was subject to on-farm inspections in 2011 and 2012 and details of these are given below. However, for the sake of completeness, I am also providing data on deductions which arose from office-based processes in 2009, 2010 and 2011 associated with the Schemes concerned.

In 2009, a review of the Department’s Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) identified ineligible areas declared by the applicant, resulting in a reduction of €2,665.85.

In 2010, because of failure to submit receipts in relation to his AEOS 1 application, an overpayment of €1,061.66 arose. The applicant was advised by letters dated 19 October 2012 and 10 January 2013 that, as he had not complied with the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme, the Department had no option but to terminate his Contract, and also in relation to the resultant overpayment.

In 2011, an on-farm inspection (Ground Eligibility and Ovine Identification and Registration) was initiated on 27 July 2011. Arising from this inspection, discrepancies were discovered in relation to the Flock Register and Dispatch Dockets resulting in a 1% penalty. The person named was informed of this outcome on 21 October 2011.

In 2011 also, due to the higher than anticipated level of applications for the Grassland Sheep Scheme, it was necessary that the initial rate payable per eligible ewe be reduced, for all applicants in order to ensure that the Scheme budget be respected This resulted in an overpayment of €90.29 in the case of this applicant.

In 2012, an on-farm Cross Compliance inspection was initiated on 10 December 2012, during the course of which discrepancies were discovered in relation to Nitrates and Bovine Identification and Registration, resulting in a 5% penalty. The person named was informed of this outcome on 26 February 2013 and further letters detailing these overpayments and explaining the repayment procedure were sent on 27 February 2013 and 12 March 2013. The following tabular statements detail the specific overpayments, by year and Scheme, and the current position in relation to recoupment of the sums overpaid:

Single Payment Scheme

Agri-Environmental Options Scheme

YearOverpayment Recouped
2010AEOS €1,001.66€950.72

Grassland Sheep Scheme

YearOverpaymentRecouped
2011Rate reduction €90.29€90.29
2012Cross Compliance€47.54€47.54

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme

YearOverpaymentRecouped
2011Cross Compliance€163.18€163.18

A total of €1,561.92, inclusive of interest, remains due to be recouped.

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