Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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487. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to explain the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare has not been facilitated with a farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38377/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named lodged his SPS application form on 28 June 2013. Under the Terms and Conditions of the 2013 Single Payment Scheme, the closing date for receipt of applications was 15 May with an additional period of 25 additional working days provided, during which applications were accepted subject to a penalty. After that period elapsed, on 10 June 2013, a 100% penalty applied. Unfortunately the application of the person named attracted the full 100% late application penalty. An appealed was lodged but was unsuccessful. The person named lodged an application under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme by the deadline of 15 May 2014 and was paid accordingly for the last year of that scheme.

Under Article 24.1.b. of EU Regulation 1307/13, establishing the rules for direct payments to farmers from 2015, it is stated that "Payment entitlements shall be allocated to farmers who were entitled to receive payments ... in respect of an aid application for direct payment .. in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 for 2013".

As the person named was not eligible to receive a direct payment under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme he is not entitled to an automatic entitlement under the Basic Payment Scheme. I have arranged for a further review to be carried out in relation to the appeal lodged by the person named in relation to the late submission of his 2013 Single Payment application form.