Installation Aid Scheme Applications

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 November 2012

Tuesday, 27 November 2012

Questions (547)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

547. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details in relation to correspondence received by this Deputy (details supplied); if he will confirm the two applicants who lodged the appeals to the Young Farmers Installation Scheme; if he will furhter confirm the decision of the Agriculture Appeals' Office which allowed the appeal to be upheld; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52202/12]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

As the Deputy is aware, the Young Farmers’ Installation Scheme was closed to new applications on 14 October 2008 as part of the decisions taken in the context of the 2009 Budget. Accordingly, grant applications which were received under the Scheme after that date were not processed by my Department on the basis of strict compliance with the terms of the decision.

In the two cases in question, applicants who had lodged applications on 17 and 22 October 2008 respectively submitted appeals to the Agriculture Appeals Office in relation to the failure by the Department to process their applications. In two separate decisions taken by that Office, which were subsequently confirmed by the Acting Director of that Office following requests for a review, that Office upheld the appeals and the Department processed the two applications concerned notwithstanding the fact that they had been received after the date of suspension of the Scheme.