Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 January 2012
191 Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan may expect to receive their agri-environment options scheme payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4548/12]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st September 2010. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, had to be completed before any payment could issue. During these checks a query arose in respect of land parcels declared which required digitisation. This is being dealt with by my Department at present and once the digitisation process is completed, the application will be processed with a view to making payment in respect of 2010 at the earliest opportunity. My Department has also been in contact with the person named with a view to resolving a query in relation to capital investment which relates to payment in respect of 2011. This issue will be processed further once a response is received.
I am well aware of the financial pressures on many farm families and of the importance of grant and scheme payments to their incomes and cash-flow. I have given the highest priority to the processing and payment of outstanding Agri-Environment Options Scheme payments and to the elimination of all unnecessary delays.
192 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not received their REP scheme payment for 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4613/12]
View answerThe person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2009 and received payments for the first two years of the contract period. 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. The administrative checks in respect of 2011 payments have been finalised. However, during the administrative check an area discrepancy was discovered between the Single Payment Scheme application for 2011 and the REPS 4 Agri-Environmental Plan of the person named. The issue has now been resolved and payment will issue shortly.
193 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not received their single farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4614/12]
View answerAn application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 4th May 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. This process is now complete and payments to the person named under the Disadvantaged Area Scheme and Single Payment Scheme will issue in the coming days.
