Agriculture Schemes Payments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013

Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Questions (1212)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

1212. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether a fraudulent claim for area aid may have been made in respect of land (details supplied) in County Kerry up to 1 April 2012; the action he will take to investigate whether his Department might have facilitated this activity; if the owner of the land will be furnished with information detailing the claimant in question; if not, the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38258/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney)

The position remains as outlined in my replies to previous PQs on 28 November 2012 and 9 May 2013. The person named had submitted a request under the Freedom of Information Act for the names of the people who have claimed "Area Aid payments" on the land referred to in this Question. Unfortunately, this request had to be refused on the basis that third party information in relation to Single Payment/Disadvantaged Area scheme applications cannot be released under the Freedom of Information Act. The person was advised accordingly by letter dated 20 September 2012 and also of the appeal procedure. An official of my Department had also been in direct contact with the person named to further outline the position.