Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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601. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment of agri-environment option scheme 2, 2012 will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31795/13]

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 the 1^st September 2011.

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 person named was selected for a ground inspection which took place on 3^rd May 2012. During this inspection, areas of non-compliance with the terms and condition of the scheme were noted in relation to the Alternative Water Source for Bovine action which resulted in this action being ineligible for payment and furthermore a penalty of 10% will be imposed. On 20^th June 2012, a letter issued to the person named informing her of this and outlining her appeal option. To date, there is no record of an appeal having been received by officials in my Department. The application is being finalised on the basis of the inspection findings and payment 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.