Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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484. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the further evidence required from a person (details supplied) in County Mayo to support a claim for an agri-environment options scheme payment; when his Department will request this evidence in order that payment can be processed, in view of the financial hardship the delay is causing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22249/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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A Department review of the non-productive capital investment claims submitted by applicants under AEOS was undertaken in 2014.  This review identified irregularities with documentation submitted for reimbursement in some of these claims. A full Department investigation was then initiated, which in turn led to the matter being referred to the Gardaí.  Payments to applicants under review have been deferred pending the outcome of the investigation.  The application of the person named is one of these cases.

The initial stage of this investigation is now concluded and my Department plans to write this week to all participants with payments held seeking further evidence to support their claim for payment, in the amounts declared. Suitable evidence to verify what has been claimed as expenditure incurred would include a certified copy (by the issuing bank) of the cheque used to pay for the goods from the participant’s bank, supported by a bank-statement and/or documentation that was submitted to Revenue when the participant was making normal returns to that Department. Where satisfactory proofs are provided payments will then be processed.