Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 January 2012
708 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in paying the single farm payment for 2011 to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41196/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 27th April 2011.
This application was selected for and was the subject of a Ground Eligibility/Cross Compliance Inspection.
In the vast majority of inspected cases, including this case, amendments have had to be made to the maps in order that the Land Parcel Identification System that is used for making payments to farmers is kept up-to-date.
Payment under the Single Payment Scheme issued on the 21st of December 2011 and payment under the Disadvantaged Area Scheme issued on the 29th of December 2011.
709 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when single farm and disadvantaged area payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41201/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2011 SPS/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 12th May 2011. Advance payment under the Single Payment Scheme issued on 25th November 2011 and balancing payment issued on 6 January 2012, payment under the Disadvantaged Area Scheme issued on 27 September 2011 directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
The person named submitted an application under the 2010 Single Payment/Disadvantaged Area Scheme declaring 61.46 hectares, it was subsequently established that the area which the person named was entitled to claim was 37.37 hectares.
The regulatory penalty appropriate in such circumstances, as provided for under Commission Regulations, which govern the Single Payment/Disadvantaged Area Schemes is that the applicant is not entitled to payment in the year of application. In addition, an administrative fine, equivalent to the amount of aid payable on the difference between the area declared and the area found, must be deducted from future payments due to the applicant in subsequent years. As a result of overpayment in 2010 and this administrative fine being applied, the person named had her payment under the 2011 Single Payment/Disadvantaged Area Scheme reduced by €4,772.97. The administrative fine has been discharged in full.
710 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive a single farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41211/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 9 May 2011, processing of which has recently been finalised, thereby allowing payment to issue directly to the nominated bank account of the applicant in the coming days.
711 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on single farm, REP scheme and area based payments in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [41218/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 26th April 2011.
This application was selected for and was the subject of a Ground Eligibility/Cross Compliance Inspection.
During the course of the Cross Compliance inspection breaches were recorded in relation to the Identification and Registration of Cattle and the requirement to maintain lands in Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition. These breaches resulted in a 2% penalty being recorded against direct payments to be made to the person named in 2011.
The person named was informed of this decision and of his right to seek a review. He was also informed of his right to appeal the outcome of a review to the Independent Agriculture Appeals office. To date, no such review request has been submitted.
The inspection results have now been fully processed. Payment will issue within the next few days.
The person named was a participant in REPS 3 from 1st October 2004 until 30th September 2009. The REPS 3 contract of the person named has now been completed and payment for all five years of that contract has issued in full. The person named is not a participant in REPS 4.
712 Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41229/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 27th April 2011.
This application was selected for a ground eligibility/cross compliance inspection. During the course of this inspection discrepancies were found that resulted in a claimed area of 15.14ha being reduced to 7.4ha. If the total area found is not sufficient to support the number of entitlements held penalties will be applied as per the Terms and Conditions of the scheme. In this case the number entitlements held by the person named is 15.45. As the difference between the area declared and the area found is more than 50%, under EU Regulations, no payment will issue.
The person named was informed of this decision and of his right to seek a review. He was also informed of his right to appeal the outcome of any such review to the Independent Agriculture Appeals Office. To date there is no record of such a request being made but this question will be taken as such a request and the review will now be undertaken. The person named will be informed of the outcome as soon as it is available.
713 Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the remaining 25% REP scheme payment in respect of a person (details supplied); when payment will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41230/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named commenced REPS 4 in February 2009 and received payment for the first two years of the contract.
REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and accordingly is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. Administrative checks in respect of 2011 payments have been finalised and the person named received 75% of his payment, totalling €5,864.79 on 30th December 2011. The 25% balancing payment for €1,954.92 was made to him on 6th January 2012.
