The inspection process identified an over claim of 23.74 hectares in this case. Where an over claim of greater than 50% is identified, as was the case here, the governing EU Regulations for the Single Payment Scheme require that no payment may issue in the current year and that, in addition, an administrative fine would also apply for the following three years. Following consideration of an appeal, the revised position is that the total over claim has been determined to be less than 50% and therefore an administrative fine will not now apply. However since the over claim remains greater than 20%, the governing EU Regulations require that no payment may issue in respect of 2012. The applicant has been advised of this position and that he may further appeal to the independent Agriculture Appeals office.
As regards the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, while the person named had sufficient eligible land in 2012, he is one of a number of applicants whose cases were impacted by the requirement of a minimum stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare, and who applied for and were refused derogation in this regard. The appeal of the person named was forwarded to the DAS Appeals Committee for consideration; immediately that Committee has adjudicated on this appeal, the person concerned will be notified of its decision, in writing.