Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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92. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an appeal to his Department regarding a decision on an ineligible area in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22552/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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A review of the lands declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme revealed that a number of the land parcels declared contained ineligible features.

In order to clarify the position regarding the area of any ineligible features my Department arranged for a ground verification check to be undertaken. This check confirmed the 2013 area over-declaration as 20.85 % in the case of both the Single Farm Payment and the Disadvantaged Area Schemes. As 20.85 % is greater than 20% of the newly established eligible area in respect of both Schemes, no payment was due to the person named under the 2013 Single Payment and Disadvantaged Area Schemes.

A letter detailing the outcome of the verification check was issued to the person named on 25 May 2014. By letter dated 23 June 2014, the person named opted to avail of his right to appeal to the independently-chaired LPIS Appeal Committee. Following due consideration, the LPIS Appeal Committee have partially allowed his appeal on parcel H19701056 and decided that an area of 17.13 hectares was eligible as forage area for 2013. This reduced the level of over-declaration from greater than 20% to a reduction of between 3% and 20% under both the Single Farm Payment and the Disadvantaged Areas Schemes. Payments due under the 2013 Single Farm Payment will issue directly to the nominated bank account of the person named shortly. The person named was notified of the decision in writing on 5 June 2015. The person named can appeal this decision to the Office of the Ombudsman if he so wishes.