Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2015
307. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a payment under the rural environment protection scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6039/15]
View answerThe person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2009 and received payments for the first five years of their contract.
REPS 4 is a measure under the 2007-13 Rural development Programme and is subject to EU regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. Following an on-farm inspection carried out in August 2014 issues were identified in relation to the maintenance and conservation of Natura /Commonage sites and the upkeep of farm and environmental records as set out in the REPS agri-environmental plan specification, and these require further investigation. A letter issued to the person named on 19th August 2014 outlining these issues, with a request to furnish the records which, to date, have not been provided. The Inspector concerned has been in contact with the person named as well as his agricultural adviser concerned on a number of occasions in an effort to bring this situation to a satisfactory conclusion.
