Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2013
889. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the practice of farmers whose lease expires on rented lands and who continue to claim area aid payments on said lands; the sanctions he will impose on a person who is identified as involved in this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46061/13]
View answerApplicants under the Single Payment Scheme are required, inter alia, to declare all land being farmed and are advised as follows in the Terms and Conditions: ‘You are legally required to declare ALL of the land that will form part of your holding for a period including 31 May 2013, excluding any land that you have leased OUT or rented OUT for any period that includes 31 May 2013. The person declaring the land on the Single Payment application will be held responsible for any non-compliance with the Statutory Management Requirements under Cross Compliance or any failure to maintain the lands declared in Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition for the period 1 January to 31 December 2013. Lands declared as agricultural land must be maintained as such until 31December 2013, unless afforested – under the Afforestation Aid Scheme. Any change in the status of declared agricultural land must be notified in writing to the Single Payment Unit of the Department’.
Where non-compliances are found in relation to the above farmers will incur penalties in accordance with the scheme Terms and Conditions. In addition, I have implemented Regulations, which make it an offence for an applicant to knowingly make a false declaration. It is also an offence for a person to assist an applicant to commit an offence under the Regulations. Scheme applicants are advised to familiarise themselves with the European Communities (Direct Support Schemes) Offences and Control Regulations S.I. No 115 of 2002.
