Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

565. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an ANC payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9923/18]

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

Applications under the 2016 and 2017 Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme were received from the person named on 14 May 2016 and 21 April 2017 respectively.

Under EU Regulation 21 of 2004 all flock owners are obliged to count the Sheep/Goats present on their holding at a specific date, record this number in the flock register and return this number to this Department via the annual Sheep/Goat Census return. Under the Terms and Conditions of the ANC scheme these returns must have been received by 15 May the following year, which is the closing date for scheme applications.

The person named has not received payment for the 2016 or 2017 ANC scheme years as he did not return the census for December 2015 and December 2016 until 21 February 2018. An official from my department has recently been in direct contact with the person named to fully explain the situation and to advise him of his rights regarding appeal to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office.