Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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89. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an appeal has been received by his Department in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal regarding their single farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45663/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In order to comply with EU requirements, the 2013 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Area’s Scheme application of the person named was one of a number selected for a ground eligibility inspection. This inspection resulted in findings of an over-declaration in area of greater than 20%. Based on the terms and conditions of the scheme this resulted in no payment in respect of the 2013 Single Payment Scheme. The person named was notified of this decision on 2 September 2014.

The person named has appealed this decision and this request is currently being examined. The person named will be notified of the outcome of this review as soon as possible. In the event that the person named is dissatisfied with the outcome of this review, the decision can be appealed to the independent Agricultural Appeals Office, within 3 months.

An application under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme was received in my Department from the person named on 10 May 2014. Following processing, overclaims were discovered on this application, and the person named was notified of this in writing on 19 September 2014. This overclaim exceeded 3% of the eligible area and the advance payment, inclusive of the appropriate reduction penalty, issued on 16 October 2014. A review of this overclaim is currently underway, and a member of my Department has been in direct contact with the person named to further clarify the position.