Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 April 2013
216. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an agri-environment options scheme payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18040/13]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1st September 2011 and has received full payment totalling €312.58 in respect of 2011.
Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme, a comprehensive administrative check of all applications, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. Payments in respect of the 2012 Scheme year are subject to a similar administrative checking process which includes verification of capital investments through checks on receipts. During this checking process a number of issues were identified regarding the documentation submitted as part of the Capital Investment Claim of the person named. As a result of these issues the person named was deemed to have knowingly made a false or misleading statement resulting in the AEOS contract being terminated. The person named was notified of this and informed in writing that all money paid under the scheme should be reimbursed to the Department. Following an appeal by the person named this decision was upheld by my Department and a letter has issued to the person named informing him of this and giving him the option to appeal the decision to the Agriculture Appeals Office.
