Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 March 2012
120 Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 457 of 8 November 2011 and 325 of 6 December 2011, when an appeal will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; when they will receive the full amount due of their agri-environment options scheme payment; the amount of that payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14792/12]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 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, must be completed before any payment can issue. This application was also randomly selected for an on farm inspection. During this inspection an issue arose in respect of the area claimed under Species Rich Grassland. As a result of this discrepancy the person named was informed that a penalty will be applied. An appeal was received by my Department in relation to this penalty and it is currently under review.
A 75% payment totalling €381.51 issued on 29 December 2011 to the person named in respect of 2010 and any remaining payments due will issue at the earliest opportunity once the appeal has been finalised.
