Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1151. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is seeking affidavits from persons who have had their single farm payments held up due to mountain fires; his plans to ensure all persons are paid in view of the fact that this method is both unworkable and unthinkable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54976/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Where land has been burned between the period of 1 March and 31 August of any given year, it is not eligible for payment under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). My Department actively investigates incidents of illegal burning using satellite imagery.

Applicants who do not remove ineligible features, such as land burned during the period 1 March to 31 August, from their BPS applications, may have an over claim(s). Such over claims have occurred in relation to a number of 2017 BPS applicants who have declared burnt land.

These BPS applicants have been written to detailing the current position in relation to their applications and the options available to them, including the right to seek a review. Those seeking a review have been advised to submit any documentation that they deem relevant which will then be reviewed by my Department.

My Department is not specifically seeking affidavits from the BPS applicants that have been written to. However, should an affidavit be submitted, it will be considered accordingly.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1152. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a basic payment scheme payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55005/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The person named submitted a 2017 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Schemes application on 4 April 2017. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue. The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing inspection.

The inspection process identified an over-declaration in area and a letter detailing the initial inspection findings issued to the person named on 20th September 2017. Comments were received from the person named and a field visit was undertaken to determine the position on the ground. The outcome of this process increased the area of the over-declaration and a letter detailing the revised inspection findings issued to the person named on 5th December 2017.

Further comments on the revised inspection findings were received from the person named and were examined by officials in my Department. The outcome was that the revised inspection findings remain unchanged. The person named was notified of this outcome by letter dated 9th January 2018. In the event that the person named is dissatisfied with this outcome a review can be sought from the Remote Sensing Section of my Department.

Payment due under the Basic Payment Scheme, taking account of the over-declaration in area, issued to the nominated bank account of the person named on 11th January 2018.