Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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597. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the forestry payment for a parcel (details supplied) has not been paid in the past few years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37370/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Forestry payments have been suspended in this case as the Department is awaiting proof of ownership of the planted lands.

The original owner of the plantation in question passed away in November 2015. The Department has been in correspondence with the new owner who inherited the land and applied to continue the scheme. However, it appears that the planted lands were never registered in the previous owner’s name. The forestry schemes are based on ownership of the planted land and there is a requirement on every applicant to provide proof of ownership as specified in the scheme conditions before payments can be made. The Department has made this clear in its correspondence.

It is recommended that the current owner discuss the matter with his solicitor with a view to resolving the ownership question as quickly as possible.