Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 March 2014
353. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under agri-environment option scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in issuing this payment; the number of farmers similarly held up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10796/14]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2010 Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 1) with effect from 1st November 2010 and has received full payment in respect of the 2010, 2011 and 2012 Scheme years.
The person named was selected for ground inspection which took place on 16th July 2013 and non-compliance issues were found in relation to the Coppicing of Hedgerow and Riparian Margin actions. A letter issued on 10th January 2014 notifying the person named of the inspection findings and giving a right of appeal to the Regional Inspector of the Department by 24th January 2014. As no appeal has been received the 75% payment for 2013 will issue within 10 days to the person named. The balancing 25% payment, minus any reduction or penalty which applies, will issue as soon as possible thereafter.
417 AEOS 1 farmers were selected for a ground inspection in 2013 of which 170 have been cleared. My officials are working towards clearing all outstanding cases.
