Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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98. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding a debt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39181/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named planted lands in 2009 but did not record this until 2012 on his Area Aid Application. As a consequence, not only was he overpaid on Area Aid, he also received payment on this land under both FEPS and REPS for 2009, 2010, and 2011. In accordance with the EU rules governing the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS), a person cannot receive REPS and FEPS simultaneously on the same land. Consequently recoupment of REPS monies received in respect of the land in question must be sought.

The Area Aid correction was processed first, while recoupment of the REPS monies received is now part of an end-of-contract review process.