Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2013
932. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 176 of 19 June 2013, if his officials have investigated a grant payment through REP scheme 4 on leased lands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46602/13]
View answerThe person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2008 and received payments for the first four years of their contract.
REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. Under the terms and conditions governing the Scheme the participant undertakes to implement their farming activities for a minimum period of 5 years under an agri-environmental plan which includes all lands farmed whether owned, leased or rented. It now appears that this was not the situation in the case of part of the lands included in the REPS plan of the person named. This matter is the subject of on-going investigation by my Department and it is expected to be brought to a conclusion shortly. Following conclusion of the investigation officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.
