Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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300. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a BEAM scheme application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29006/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Agriculture Appeals Office operates independently of the Department.

I have been informed however that an appeal was received by the Agriculture Appeals Office on 31^stJuly 2020 from the person named.

The decision letter from the Department to the person named was dated 30^thSeptember 2019 and, in accordance with the provisions of the Agriculture Appeals Regulations (SI 193 of 2002), the person named had three months from the date of this letter to submit an appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office.

As the appeal was not received by the Appeals Office until 31^stJuly 2020, the appeal was not accepted as valid by the Office as it was submitted seven months late.

The Director of Agriculture Appeals may accept an appeal where she considers that there are exceptional circumstances leading to late submission of an appeal. I am informed that, having examined the evidence presented, the Director did not consider there to be exceptional circumstances that caused the appeal to be submitted late in this case.