Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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88. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the agri-environment options scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9557/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named was approved for participation in the 2010 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 1) with effect from 1 September 2010 and full entitlements have issued in respect of the 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 Scheme years.

Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. During these checks in respect of the 2014 Scheme year it was discovered that two parcels of land included on the AEOS application of the person named were included on the SPS application of another herd owner.

The Species Rich Grassland and Traditional Hay Meadow actions claimed on these parcels on the AEOS application were therefore ineligible for payment under the AEOS scheme. As contracts under AEOS must run for at least five years, the payments which issued in respect of these parcels must now be recouped.

On 25 November 2014, a letter issued to the person named setting out this decision and providing the option to submit an appeal within 10 days. An appeal was received from the person named and following review the original decision was upheld. He was then informed of the right to appeal this decision to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office, which he did. The Agriculture Appeals Office will now adjudicate on the case.