Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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219. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a ground inspection did not take place to determine the eligibility of an area for an appeal of a penalty of a single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; if this inspection will now be scheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43740/14]

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 Scheme revealed that one of the land parcels declared by the person named contained ineligible features. In order to clarify the position regarding the areas deemed ineligible my Department undertook a ground verification check, which was carried out on 31 January 2014. This check reduced the 2013 area over-declaration from 57.7% to 32.40% in the case of both the Single Farm Payment and the Disadvantaged Area Schemes. Regretfully, as 32.40% is still greater than 20% of the newly established eligible area in respect of both schemes, no payment is due to the person named under the 2013 Single Payment and Disadvantaged Area Schemes.

A letter detailing the outcome of the verification check was issued to the person named on 21 May 2014. This letter advised that if the person named was dissatisfied with the outcome of the verification check the decision could be appealed to the independently chaired LPIS Appeals Committee, within 3 months of the notification letter.

By letter dated 23 June 2014, the person named opted to avail of his right to appeal to the independently chaired LPIS Appeal Committee. Following due consideration, the LPIS Appeal Committee rejected his appeal, and notified him of the decision by letter dated 30 October 2014, in which, they outlined his right to appeal further to the office of the Ombudsman.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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220. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) in County Galway whose entitlements were reinstated in 2013 will be entitled to entitlements from 2015 to 2020, taking account that no single payment claim was made in 2013 due to force majeure; or alternatively if the person in question will be automatically allocated entitlements from the national reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44170/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The second person named held the herd number in the 2013 scheme year but did not submit a Single Payment Scheme application. The first person named has now taken over the farming enterprise and the herd number previously held by the second person named and the Single Payment Scheme entitlements were gifted to him under the 2014 scheme year. Neither of the persons named has an automatic allocation right to receive new Basic Payment scheme entitlements in 2015 as they were not entitled to receive a direct payment in 2013 under the Single Payment Scheme, the Grassland Sheep Scheme, the Burren Farming for Conservation Scheme or the Beef Data Programme.

On the basis of a Force Majeure application, the entitlements held by the second person named, which under normal circumstances would have reverted to the National Reserve were reinstated. The second person named should now submit a 2013 Single Payment Scheme application to the Single Payment Scheme Unit in Portlaoise with relevant supporting medical evidence. The Reference Number noted above should be quoted in such an application. This application will be considered and the person named informed of the outcome.