Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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103. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of penalty reviews under the single payment scheme received by his Department in 2014; the number of reviews upheld, partially upheld, rejected and ongoing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15062/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department, in the context of the delivery of the Direct Payments Scheme and other area-based schemes, must ensure that all applicants meet the requirements of the applicable EU governing legislation. Applicants must ensure that scheme application forms are submitted within prescribed deadlines, that the land declared for aid is eligible and that ineligible features have been excluded, that the requirements of the Cross Compliance regime are adhered to and that other scheme specific requirements are met. My Department operates a comprehensive appeal mechanism to protect the interest of farmers who have difficulties where a penalty has been applied. The farmer can initially seek a review internally within my Department. Where the farmer remains dissatisfied the decision can be appealed to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office.

The data on reviews received by my Department is not readily available in the specific format requested by the Deputy. An official from my Department will contact the Deputy directly to clarify further the data being requested.