Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 June 2014
84. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the circumstances of a case where a person (details supplied) in County Offaly has not been paid a single farm payment for over five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24020/14]
View answerThe person named submitted Single Payment Scheme (SPS) applications in both 2009 and 2010. During the processing of those applications, it was discovered that the lands declared were also declared on the application of another party. Following an investigation the person named agreed that he did not have the right to declare this land and the person named did not qualify for payment in 2009 or 2010.
Under the terms and conditions of the SPS it is a requirement that each entitlement be used once in any two year period. Since the person named did not meet this requirement his entitlements were surrendered to the National Reserve. A letter explaining the position was sent to the person named on 1 February 2011 and also advised him of how to get further information. In 2011, 2012 and 2013 the person named did not acquire any other entitlements and consequently was not eligible for payment under the SPS for those years.
