Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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445. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo cannot claim a payment for ponies under the agri-environment options scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21561/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named was approved for participation in the 2012 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from 1 May 2013. Under the Terms and Conditions and Specifications of AEOS, an applicant cannot use the circumstances of another person to qualify for payment. All applicants for the scheme are expected to be familiar with the various scheme conditions and indeed all have signed an application form acknowledging this.

The Specifications for AEOS state that the applicant must be the registered owner of all animals claimed for and also be a member of an approved Breed Society for the duration of the contract.

In this case, it has been established that the person in question is not a member of an approved Breeders Society and does not have Connemara ponies registered in their name.