Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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661. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department ceased posting letters to farmers regarding problems with ANC payments; his views on whether this is reflected in the steady rise in eligible farmers missing out on ANC payments for reasons other than stocking density since 2016; if he will consider reverting to posting letters to farmers in such cases given the age profile of the farmers involved and their associated lack of broadband and computer skills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43188/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In June 2020, my Department introduced a change in the approach to the issuing of certain error letters in relation to the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). These changes were introduced following consultation with the farm organisations in accordance with the Farmers Charter of Rights. While these error letters related to BPS, they could also impact on an ANC application where that error was linked to ANC eligible land.

Letters in relation to over claims, overlaps and dual claims were no longer posted where the farmer had:

(a) employed an agricultural agent to act on their behalf,

or

(b) had registered for the Department's Online Services themselves and had also signed up to receive text message alerts from the Department.

Farmers received a text message notification when these error letter issued electronically and, where they had an agent, their agricultural agents received an email notification. Instead of receiving a hard copy, farmers could log in to www.agfood.ie, view these letters and respond to them instantly, thereby helping to speed up processing of their applications.

These three letter types (dealing with over claims, overlaps and dual claims) continued to be posted to farmers who did not satisfy at least one of the two conditions (a) and (b) outlined above. In addition, where a required response was not received to these notifications, a follow up letter was posted. Therefore, farmers would still be able to correspond in writing if they had difficulty in using the online system.

All other BPS letters continued to issue by post to all farmers. The number of farmers not receiving ANC payments for reasons other than stocking density remains low as a percentage of eligible applicants, and the change in the approach to issuing BPS letters has contributed to the increased levels of payments issuing across the ANC scheme and BPS in 2020.