Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 November 2013
357. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding payments in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47939/13]
View answerThe person named submitted an application under the 2013 Single Payment/Disadvantaged Area Schemes on 13 May 2013. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases, land eligibility inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
In order to meet the EU requirements, the application concerned was one of a number which was selected for inspection. The application was initially examined via remote sensing (Satellite Inspection). As over claims were determined on some parcels, these were sent for ground inspection.
The ground inspection has now been carried out and the results have been finalised as an over claim of greater than 20%. Under the Terms and Conditions of the Single Payment Scheme this results in a nil payment in respect of 2013. The person named was notified of this decision on 7 November 2013. The person named was also informed of his right to seek a review of this decision. To date there is no record of any appeal having been received in my Department.
In the event that the person named does appeal and is dissatisfied with the outcome of any such appeal, the decision can also be appealed to the Independent Agriculture Appeals Office, within a period of 3 months.
My Department also received a 2013 Transfer of Entitlements Application from the person named to transfer 3.75 entitlements by way of sale to another farmer.
An official from my Department contacted the person named as the entitlements in question were leased entitlements and it is not possible to sell leased entitlements. The person named was advised that if he wished to proceed with the transfer it was necessary to end the original lease and have the entitlements in question gifted to him.
My Department has recently received a new Transfer of Entitlements application from the person named to have the 3.75 entitlements gifted to him from another person. However, no application has been received in relation to the subsequent sale of these entitlements. Once the relevant documentation is received this transfer will be processed.
