Agri-Environment Options Scheme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 September 2011

Tuesday, 20 September 2011

Ceisteanna (398)

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

440 Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when an application for agri-environment options scheme for 2010 will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this applicant was one of the first to join AEOS in May 2010 and is experiencing financial hardship because of the major delay in payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24636/11]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Simon Coveney)

The person named has been approved into the AEOS scheme with effect from 1 September 2010. Under the EU Regulations governing the Agri-Environment Options Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed on all applications before any approvals can issue. In addition, as part of the checks required under EU regulations, the person named was randomly selected for inspection. As part of this process Record Sheets documenting details of actions undertaken under AEOS must be inspected and authorised by the Department's inspector. My Department has been in contact with the person named in relation to aspects of his claim and once a response is received the application will be further processed.