Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 November 2014
431. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review a case in respect of a person (details supplied) regarding an overpayment issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41509/14]
View answerFollowing a review of the forestry contract, it was noted that the applicant was notified in 18th February 2014 of an overpayment due to a reduction in the payable area . He was provided with the reason for the overpayment, which was that he had requested a boundary change to allow for the inclusion in his SPS claim of some of the area previously claimed as forestry. This letter advised him that, if he wished to appeal, he should write to the Appeals section of the Forest Service providing details of the grounds for his appeal. The applicant did not lodge an appeal. He was further advised that, if the overpaid amount was not repaid within 30 days of the letter, the outstanding debt would be netted from any other Department scheme payments due to him. The debt was subsequently recovered in this manner.
On 17th September 2014, the applicant’s forestry company informed the Department that the company and the applicant accepts the reduced area and it requested that the payment application form be forwarded to the applicant to enable him to claim his 2014 premium payment, which has since been paid. It should be noted that there is no record of any involvement by Coillte for this contract.
A Department official will make contact with the applicant to discuss the matter further.
