Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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128. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons who have contacted his Department under the beef genomics scheme, who have proof of postage, but have had their application rejected on the basis that they have no proof of delivery; when his Department's policy on proof of postage changed; if the application clearly stated that applications had to be submitted by registered post; the number of applications received under the scheme and the number received by registered post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26475/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department has currently received approximately 40 appeals relating to applications with no proof of postage. No appeals have been received where the applicant had a swiftpost or registered post receipt.

The Terms and Conditions of this Programme specifically state that a swiftpost receipt is required as proof of postage where it is claimed that an application had been submitted. This has been the only acceptable evidence of postage for the Single Payment Scheme in 2011 and since the Beef Data Programme commenced in 2013.

A total of 37,000 applications to join the Scheme were received with approximately 12,000 of these received using swiftpost/registered post.

The closing date for receipt of applications to join this Scheme was extended from 4 to 17 April, and a 1% penalty is applied for each day that the application is received after the closing date, up to the 12^thof May. Cases where an application was received after the closing date are reviewed on an individual basis. Any case that is rejected by my Department has the right to appeal the decision to the Agriculture Appeals Unit.