Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1421. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be made in respect of a review request lodged on behalf of persons (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in making a decision on the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35966/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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As previously indicated to the Deputy, this case relates to the persons named not having submitted Single Payment Scheme (SPS) applications for scheme years 2013 & 2014 and a Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application in 2015.An appeal letter and supporting documentation was submitted by an agricultural advisor on behalf of the persons named.

The establishment of the right to a payment under BPS is dependent on the reference years 2013, 2014 and 2015.Any decision to accept applications for those years has to be carefully considered given the considerable time that had elapsed up to September 2018, when the appeal was submitted. This is particularly the case when a decision will need to be made as to whether BPS entitlements can also be allocated.

It should be noted that applications under the 2016, 2017 and 2018 Basic Payment Scheme were submitted online and on time by the approved agricultural advisor on behalf of the persons named.

The original documentation and further material requested by my Department has been fully examined. This appeal has not been upheld on the basis that the information provided does not meet the Force Majeure or Exceptional Circumstances criteria laid down in EU legislation.

A letter recently issued to the persons named setting out the position and outlining their right of further appeal to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office.