Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 February 2014
177. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision on REP scheme 4 will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8422/14]
View answerThe person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2008 and received payments for the full six 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. According to the Terms and Condition of the Scheme "Farmers must make a valid application and carry out their farming activities in accordance with an Agri-environmental Plan prepared by an approved Planner respecting all relevant EU requirements and national legislation for the time being in force". Due to the reduction in the contract area from 22.8 hectares to 16.97 hectares as a result of the disposal of lands in 2012, a clawback of monies was applied. An appeal has been lodged by the person named and is currently the subject of a review by my Department. A decision will issue to the person named shortly.
