Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

210. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the single payment scheme penalty that was imposed on a person (details supplied) for 2013 has not been reviewed despite an appeal being sent in; and the reason it was deemed eligible for exclusion under the 2013 direct payment schemes. [8846/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 ten parcels declared by the named person, resulting in an over-claim of greater than 20%. A field visit was then carried out on the named person's holding to verify the results.

The person named was notified in writing on 17 September 2014 of the outcome of this field visit and was advised of his right to appeal within 4 months of this date if did not agree with the findings. He subsequently wrote to my Department in May 2015 and July 2016, however, no specific details regarding reasons for appealing were submitted.

An official from my Department will make direct contact the person named in the coming days.