Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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426. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an appeal regarding a penalty under the large single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21314/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas scheme application on 7 May 2014. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed to confirm eligibility under the schemes.

The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing inspection. Initial processing of this inspection identified a requirement to verify the eligibility of land declared by means of a field inspection. Pending the outcome of this field visit, payment under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme was processed based on the area declared by the person named and issued on 11 December 2014.

The subsequent field visit, to verify the position on the ground, identified discrepancies between the area declared and the area determined resulting in an over-declaration in area of greater than 50%. Based on the terms and conditions of the scheme this resulted in no payment being due under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme. The person named was notified of the outcome of this field visit by letter issued on 7 May 2015 and informed of his right of appeal.

The person named has sought a review of this decision and this request is currently being examined. The person named will be notified of the outcome of the review once finalised.

In the event that the person named is dissatisfied with the outcome of the review the decision can be appealed to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office, within 3 months.