Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department is currently examining approximately 400 cases that submitted invoices from one particular company to verify and support claims under the non-productive capital investment action of AEOS. It is known that in some cases the invoices submitted were for amounts different to those actually paid by the participants.

Funding provided under the scheme comes partly from the EU and partly from the National Exchequer. There is a requirement and obligation to ensure that the expenditure claimed by scheme participants reflects the reality of what took place. For that reason my Department wrote to participants requesting alternative proof that the amounts claimed were in fact the amounts paid.

The person named above was written to on 30 September 2014 regarding the non-productive capital investment claim that they had submitted. This letter requested the submission of alternative verifiable proof to support one of the invoices that was included in the claim for expenditure incurred. A reply to this letter was received on 22 October 2014. No alternative evidence was included in the reply.

A further letter issued on 18 June 2015 requesting, once again, the submission of alternative verifiable proof. No reply was received and the person concerned was contacted by an official of my Department. As requested by the person named, my Department reissued the letter of 18 June 2015 on 16 September. To-date no reply has been received to this letter.