Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 May 2013
241. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason there has been a continued delay with the issuance of agri-environment option scheme payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23564/13]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1st September 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. The person named was also selected for a ground inspection which took place on 11th May 2012. During this inspection, areas of non-compliance with the terms and condition of the scheme were noted in relation to the Planting of New Hedgerow and Tree Planting – Standard options which resulted in a penalty of 20% being imposed. The person named was informed of the nature of the penalty and the appeal option and as no appeal has been received, the application has been processed for payment on the basis of the inspection findings and payment (net of penalty) in respect of 2011 will issue shortly.
Payments in respect of the 2012 Scheme year are subject to a similar administrative checking process. Following payment for the 2011 scheme year, the 2012 application will be finalised.
