Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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323. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason forestry lands were excluded from a 2014 single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; the position regarding the financial discipline deduction in the single farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48268/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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An application under the 2014 Single Farm Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 13 May 2014 which included lands that had been afforested in 2014. Lands that are afforested are eligible to draw down the Single Farm payment provided they meet specific requirements and it is therefore necessary to verify such land is eligible for payment. Payment in respect of the grasslands declared issued on 16 October and 1 December . The verification process in respect of the afforested land has been completed and payment will issue shortly. A 1.302214% deduction in respect of Financial Discipline was applied to the payment amount in excess of €2,000, in accordance with the EU Regulations governing the administration of the scheme. This reduction is linked to an overall reduction to the European Union budget to create a Crisis Reserve Fund, and has been applied in all member states.

Member states do not have any discretion in the application of Financial Discipline.