Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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231. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for a reduction in a disadvantaged area scheme payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37713/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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A review of the land parcels declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme revealed that a number of the land parcels declared by the person named contained ineligible features. This resulted in reduction of 0.7 hectares being applied to the area based payments, including the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, where an overpayment of €217.97 was notified to the person named. The reduction of 0.7 hectare was for ineligible features including a river, a farmyard and numerous roads, which were included in the applicant’s claimed area. An over-payment has also being established under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme application submitted by the person named.

The person named was notified of this overpayment by letter of 15 September, 2014 which also advised that if payments are not recouped directly they will be debited from any future payments that may fall due from my Department. This is the normal recoupment policy for debts due of my Department. There is a comprehensive series of mechanisms in place should the person named wish to appeal the reduction in payment.