Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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320. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a penalty imposed on a person (details supplied) in County Galway will result in a reduction in agri-environment option scheme payments in future years; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that such a recoupment in future years would be a cause of severe financial hardship on the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43114/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 November 2010. Full payment has issued in respect of the 2010 and 2011 Scheme Years and 75% payment has issued in respect of the 2012 Scheme Year.

The person named was selected for a ground inspection which took place on 8 October 2012. During this inspection non compliances with the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme were noted in relation to the Traditional Hay Meadow and Coppicing Hedgerows actions which resulted in penalties being imposed. A letter issued on 30 January 2013 notifying the participant of these penalties and providing him with an option to submit an appeal. An appeal was received in my Department on 31January 2013.

Following receipt of this appeal a review of the file was carried out. My Department issued a letter to the person named on 14February 2013 upholding the original decision to apply the penalties. This letter also gave him the option to appeal the decision to the Agriculture Appeals Office within three months. An appeal was received but as it was outside the prescribed time limit it could not be dealt by the Agriculture Appeals Office and the applicant was advised accordingly.

A letter issued to the person named on 27June 2013 detailing the amounts due and the recoupment process relevant to the application. It notified him that, in addition to penalties, amounts previously paid for units not found on inspection would have to recouped. In accordance with the governing EU Regulations if full payment is not received from the participant, my Department has no option but to recover these monies from future scheme payments.