John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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864. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of farmers in each county who are receiving a single farm payment in respect of commonages; the number of farmers in each county who have had their payments withdrawn or reduced following inspections by his Department officials in 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; the average payment to farmers in each county at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45683/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The data requested by the deputy relating to payments to SPS applicants who have claimed commonages is set out in tabular form for 2011, 2012 and 2013 and the average total advance payment to each farmer in 2013 to date.

The material relating to the number of farmers in each county who have had their payments withdrawn or reduced following inspections of commonages by officials of my Department in 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013 is not as yet available and it will be provided to the Deputy as soon as possible.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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865. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the appeals procedure that is applied in the event of a farmer having their single farm payment reduced or withdrawn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45684/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under the Direct Aid Schemes, farmers are obliged to declare only eligible land when making their applications, are to exclude ineligible features, such as roads, buildings, dense scrub, etc. These claims are then recorded on my Department’s Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS). Given the importance of the LPIS database in underpinning direct aid payments worth in excess of €1.5 billion annually, my Department is obliged under EU Regulations to ensure its accuracy, which is done on an ongoing basis via ground inspections, remotely via satellite imagery, review of ortho-photography and by the corrections and adjustments made by individual farmers.

Following consultation with the EU Commission, as part of the normal Clearance of Accounts process, my Department was requested to undertake a complete review of the LPIS database. This process is currently underway. It has proven necessary to adjust land parcels where it was established that some ineligible features had been included.

While farmers have the normal course of appeal within my Department in the first instance, mindful of the impact on some individuals, I decided to establish a dedicated Appeals Committee, to allow for further, independent, review.

It is appropriate that provision be made for an independent appeals process, in order that those, whose appeals are initially not successful, may be afforded the opportunity to appeal my Department’s decision.I am very pleased to say that Mr Padraig Gibbons, Chairman of Aurivo (formerly known as Connacht Gold), has agreed to chair the new Appeals Committee, which will also comprise of Appeals Officers from the Agriculture Appeals Office in Portlaoise. This new Appeals Committee will deal with appeals from farmers in an independent, fair and comprehensive manner.

Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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866. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a satellite inspection of land has been concluded in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the outcome of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45721/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named submitted an application under the 2013 Single Payment and Disadvantaged Area Schemes on 8^th May 2013. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases, land eligibility inspections, be completed before any payments issue.

In order to meet the EU requirements, the application concerned was one of a number which was selected for inspection. The application was initially examined via remote sensing (Satellite Inspection). As over claims were determined on some parcels, these were sent for ground inspection. The ground inspection has now been carried out and the results are being finalised with the intention of issuing any payment due as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will shortly be in contact with the person named.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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867. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a headage payment will issue a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45746/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named submitted a Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application on 13 May 2013. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases on-farm inspections, be completed before any payments issue.

The application of the person named was selected for a ground eligibility inspection. This inspection has been completed and the results are now being finalised with the intention of issuing any payment due as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will shortly be in contact with the person named.