Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 July 2012
537 Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason an application for the agri-environment options scheme was refused in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway. [31638/12]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the1 November 2010 having completed the Form N option, indicating that he had designated lands.
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. During this administrative checking process it was discovered that the parcels listed on Form N were not designated areas. My Department subsequently rejected the application as the scheme Terms and Conditions had not been complied with. A letter issued to the person named on 18 April 2012 setting out this decision and providing the option to submit an appeal. An appeal was received in writing on 26th April 2012, however the original decision was upheld. The person named submitted an appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office on 18 May 2012 and officials are currently reviewing the file. The person named will be notified of the result in due course.
