Written answers

Wednesday, 18 December 2013

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Agriculture Schemes Payments

Photo of Noel HarringtonNoel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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194. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding payments of the disadvantaged areas and single farm payments schemes in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54532/13]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon 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 26th April 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 process confirmed an over claim of greater than 3% but less than 20% in this case. The person named was notified of this decision on 10th December 2013 and was also informed of his right to seek a review of this decision. To date there is no record of any appeal having been received in my Department. Payment under the Single Payment Scheme issued to the nominated bank account of the person named on 12th December based on the reduced eligible area following the application of penalties.

As processing of the application of the person named under the 2013 Disadvantaged Area Scheme is now completed, payment is due to issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.

Photo of Patrick O'DonovanPatrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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195. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Limerick was deducted €467.15 from the single farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54577/13]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In accordance with EU regulations a review of all land declared on applications for payment under the various direct payment schemes is being undertaken to ensure that ineligible features have been excluded from the land declared.

During the review of the land declared by the person named it was identified that ineligible features, namely roadways and scrub, had been included on the land declared and that these features had been included on the Single Farm Payment Scheme application since 2009. This has resulted in an overclaim of €467.15 in respect of the years 2009 to 2012 inclusive and has been recouped from the balancing payment of the person named.

A further €115.24 was recouped from this herdowner’s advance payment in respect of the ineligible features included on the 2013 application. A letter and maps of the relevant parcels issued to the person named on 17 December. It is open to the person named to seek a review of the decision should he feel that the specific areas should not have been excluded. In the event that the person named is dissatisfied with the outcome of that review, the decision can also be appealed to the independent LPIS Appeals Committee.

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