Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2013
449. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding payment for disadvantaged area payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44439/13]
View answerAn application under the Single Payment / Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 10 May 2013. This application was the subject of a Remote Sensing (i.e. Satellite Inspection). The results of this inspection indicated that over-claims existed on land parcels declared in the application. With a view to verifying the results of the Remote Sensing inspection a ground inspection of these parcels was arranged. The findings of the inspection confirmed that the total over-claim in respect of both the Single Payment and Disadvantaged Areas Schemes was greater than 50%. In such circumstances, the penalty provided for in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1122/2009 is that no payment can issue for either Scheme in the year in question.
In addition, in accordance with the provisions of the governing EU Regulations, a Multi-Annual Sanction fine equalling to the monetary equivalent of the area over-claim by the applicant must be deducted from payments under EU funded schemes due to the applicant over the following three years.
The person named was informed of the over-claim by letter dated 18 October 2013. That letter also informed the applicant that she had a right to appeal. On receipt of any appeal the matter will be re-examined by my Department.
