Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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115. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding payment for area aid and AEOS schemes in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24823/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As my Department has no record of eligible animals being declared on the holding of the person named for the last number of years, he is not due payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme.

The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 September 2011 and full entitlements have issued in respect of the 2011 and 2012 Scheme years.

Scheme participants with Natura land are required to have a minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock units per hectare of designated area. The stocking density can only be determined based on the AIMS and Sheep Census records for the previous full calendar year. For AEOS 2 participants 2013 was the first year when this check could be carried out.

During the administrative checking process in respect of the 2013 Scheme year, it was established that the person named did not fulfil the Stocking Density requirements for the Natura action. The person named was notified by letter dated the 30^thJuly 2013 that records showed that he did not meet the required stocking density and was advised that the required stocking density be in place by the end of 2013. No response was received and once clarification is received and the issue finalised, the application will be further processed with the intention of issuing payment for 2013 as soon as possible.