Single Payment Scheme Administration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 January 2014

Tuesday, 28 January 2014

Questions (626)

Michael McCarthy

Question:

626. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the clawback of single farm payments and the ongoing land parcel review; if he will provide clarification on the exact number of farmers that have been contacted as part of this ongoing land parcel eligibility review; the number of farmers in County Cork who have been contacted in this regard; the total sum being recouped from farmers in County Cork; if he will confirm the years being reviewed; if he will provide assurances that a ceiling will be put on the years being examined as the prospect of five years retrospective penalties will only serve to cause undue hardship; his views on whether the review is fair to farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3908/14]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Deputy will be fully aware of the value of the EU funded Direct Payment Schemes to Ireland. Each year farmers in Ireland benefit from funding of over €1.5 billion under Schemes such as the Single Farm Payment Scheme, the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, the Agri-Environment Schemes, etc. This comprises the entire net income of many thousands of Irish farmers.

The European Commission has an obligation to ensure that Member States manage and use the EU funding granted to them in accordance with the very restrictive provisions governing the Schemes and general financial provisions. All of the lands declared by farmers must be eligible if these lands benefit from payment under one of more of these Schemes. My Department is currently carrying out a comprehensive exercise by excluding ineligible features, such as houses, roads, scrub, rivers, etc. in land parcels declared by farmers. In the vast majority of cases, the exclusion has no impact on payments as the farmers in question have taken a prudent approach and reduced the declared area to take account of the ineligible feature. No cutbacks have been applied on eligible land.

As the Review exercise remains ongoing at present, it is not feasible to collate the data sought by the Deputy. However, data is being extracted and compiled and will be provided directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.