John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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154. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all payments due to a person (details supplied) under the basic income support for sustainability scheme have been paid to date. [39557/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Applications for participation in the 2023 and 2024 Basic Income Support for Sustainability Scheme (BISS), Complementary Redistributive Support for Sustainability (CRISS), Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) and ECO schemes was received from the above-named applicant.

These applications were made using a temporary reference number as a change of ownership request on a herd number was being processed at the time.

The change of ownership on the herd number is now finalised, however, there were issues linking the reference number to the applicants herd number. My officials have been in communication with the applicant and are working through the issues to rectify any outstanding problems and will continue to keep the applicant informed of progress.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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155. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an appeal lodged by persons (details supplied) under the young farmer supports scheme will be expedited; and if the sanctions being suggested will be put on hold until a final decision is made. [39561/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The persons named submitted an application under the 2023 Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers (CISYF), with the second named person as the young farmer, and this application was subsequently selected for inspection. The on-the-spot-check involves an interview with the young farmer and a series of checks to verify that the young farmer has financial and managerial control of the holding. Following completion of this inspection the applicants were deemed not to be meeting the eligibility requirements, and this decision was upheld following a review requested by the applicants.

The applicants subsequently submitted an appeal to the independent Agricultural Appeals Office and officials in my Department have been advised that the oral hearing of this appeal has been scheduled for 10th October 2024.

As set out in the Terms and Conditions of the scheme, where an applicant is deemed not to be meeting the eligibility requirements of the scheme following an on-the-spot-check, they are excluded from receiving aid under the scheme for the year concerned. In addition, a penalty applies which is calculated on the basis of the amount the applicant would have received in the scheme year concerned.

EU Regulations governing the operation of the CISYF set down the requirements for the recovery of debts. These regulations require my Department to recover debts within a reasonable timeframe and also provide for my Department to offset such amounts against any future payments in favour of the beneficiary. In this regard, the persons named have contacted my Department’s Accounts Division and alternative arrangements have been agreed.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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156. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will list the most frequent errors identified under each scheme for which farmers applied in 2023; the steps he is taking to reduce this error rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39578/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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It is not possible to provide the information requested by the Deputy in the required time. The information is currently being compiled and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.