Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 April 2012
160 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if approval will be given in respect of payment under the 2011 single farm payment scheme to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the steps being taken to address the difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19568/12]
View answerAn application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 13th May 2011.
This application was selected for a cross compliance inspection. In preparation for this inspection officials from this Department unsuccessfully attempted to contact the first person named by telephone on the 27th of May 2011 to arrange the inspection. On the 30th of May 2011 an official called to the holding and informed him that an inspection had been scheduled for the 1st of June 2011. The first person named indicated that he was unsure if he wanted the inspection to proceed and the following day the second person named contacted the official involved and stated that the inspection would not be allowed to proceed. This was deemed a failure to co-operate with an inspection and as per the Terms and Conditions of the scheme resulted in a 100% penalty being recorded against the direct payments in 2011.
The first person named was informed of this decision on the 21st of June 2011 and of his right to seek a review. A review was requested on the 5th of October 2011 and a letter, upholding the original decision, was issued on the 9th of February 2012. The letter also informed the person named of his right to appeal the decision to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office. To date, no such appeal has been made.
161 Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a REPS 4 payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19647/12]
View answerThe person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2008 and received payments for the first three years of their contract.
REPS 4 is a measure under the current 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. Administrative checks in respect of 2011 payments have been completed and the 75% year 4 payment amounting to €8885.18 issued on 16th April 2012. The 25% balancing payment will issue shortly.
