Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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226. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the single farm payment and area aid payment 2014 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; if he will expedite the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43861/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ scheme application on 17 April 2014. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. Satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue. The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing inspection.

This inspection resulted in findings of an over-declaration in area of greater than 50%. Based on the terms and conditions of the schemes this results in no payment in respect of the 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ Schemes and the application of an administrative fine to be offset against any future EU payments.

The person named will be notified of this decision shortly and of their right to seek a review of this decision. In the event that the person is dissatisfied with the outcome of any such review, the decision can be appealed to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office, within 3 months.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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227. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has had the disadvantaged areas payment and single farm payment reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43910/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ scheme application on 17 April 2014. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. Satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue. The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing inspection.

The inspection identified discrepancies between the areas declared and the area found resulting in an area over-declaration of between 3% and 20%. Under the Terms and Conditions of these schemes, this resulted in payment under the 2014 Single Farm Payment Scheme being based on the found area having been reduced by double the difference between the area found and the area declared. The person named will be notified of the outcome of the inspection shortly and of the right to seek a review of this decision. Payment, on the basis set above, of the advance payment under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme issued to the nominated bank account of the person named on 6 November 2014.

While the payment due under the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas’ Scheme was not affected by the outcome of the 2014 inspection, an amount of €758.54 was recouped from the payment of the person named. A sum of €537 was in respect of Local Property Tax and was deducted as per an agreement between the person named and the Revenue Commissioners, while the remaining €221.54 related to an Organic Farming Scheme overpayment. The person named was notified of this OFS overpayment by letter dated 17 February, 2014.