Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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495. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) regarding an outstanding debt for an ANC and repayments schedule that has been verbally set up; the steps required to receive refunds issued relating to same in view of the fact that the outstanding debt has been recovered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53474/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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In cases where there is no agreement in place to repay an outstanding debt, my Department is obliged, under EU Regulations, to offset payments due to the client against any outstanding debt. The person named still has outstanding debt arising from an overpayment notified to him under the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme in 2018.

An inquiry in respect of debt repayment options was made on behalf of that person in November 2018 but no repayment plan was agreed at that time. A standing order form was issued to the person and he was requested to advise when the first instalment would be due to the Department so that it could be noted as a repayment plan.

That person was due a payment in respect of Direct Payment Scheme on 3rd December 2018 and, as there was no repayment plan in place at that time, the amount due was offset against this overpayment. Subsequently on 6 December, a completed Standing Order form was received in the Department. This form was returned to the person advising him to present it to his bank for processing. The details of the Standing Order were also recorded on the person's account as a repayment plan. This will mean that any further payments due to that person will issue to him as long as the repayment plan, as agreed by way of the Standing Order, is maintained.