Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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377. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal by persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51165/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Sheep Welfare Scheme was introduced in December 2016 to support the delivery of flock health benefits in the sheep sector.  Under the terms and conditions of the scheme, applicants to the scheme are required to submit the annual Sheep Census return in accordance within the set deadlines.

In the case of this application, the Sheep Census Return for 2016 was not received within the required deadlines and thus the application for participation in the scheme was not accepted.

The applicants submitted an initial appeal on this decision to the Department.  However, this appeal was unsuccessful. The applicants were advised at this time that they had the option to seek a review of this decision to a higher officer of the department.

This subsequent appeal was reviewed by a more senior officer of the Department but this appeal was also unsuccessful.  The applicants were advised of this decision in a letter dated 24 November 2017.  This letter has also advised the applicants that they have the right of further appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office.