Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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562. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the developments with regard to an issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8656/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Under the Terms and Conditions of the Direct Aid Schemes, which includes the 2013 Single Payment Scheme, farmers are obliged to declare only eligible land when making their applications. Ineligible features such as roads, buildings, farmyards, dense scrub, etc. must be excluded.

The Department carried out a review of the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) in 2013. This resulted in adjustment to the parcels of a significant number of applicants due to the inclusion of ineligible features. In certain circumstances these adjustments gave rise to penalties as in the case of the person named. Adjustments were necessary on four parcels declared by the named person, resulting in an over-claim of between 3% and 20%. The person named was notified in writing on 27 November 2013 of the over claims and was advised of his right to submit supporting documentation where he did not agree with the findings. My Department has not, to date, received any specific information/documentation regarding this matter.

An official from my Department has been in contact with the person with a view towards clarifying the matter.