Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 February 2015
78. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) has not been paid their single payment scheme moneys for 2012, 2013 and 2014; the basis it is stated overpayment have been made; the way these overpayments occurred; if the overpayment is now cleared; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5122/15]
View answerAn application under the 2012 Single Payment Scheme was received in my Department from the person named on 25 April 2012. One of the conditions of the above Scheme requires that any lands declared ‘be used and managed by the applicant’. As the person named confirmed to my Department , by phone call, on 25 October 2012 that he was not farming any of the land parcels declared, no payment was due to him under the 2012 Scheme. A review of this decision will be undertaken and an official from my Department will contact the person named directly to discuss the matter. An application under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 14 May 2013. A review of the land parcels declared revealed that a number of the land parcels declared contained ineligible features resulting in an over-declaration of greater than 20% meaning no payment was due in respect of 2013.
Following an appeal from the person named, a visit by a Department official to verify the position was necessary to progress the matter. This check resulted in the application of a significantly lower penalty of 15.94% which will result in a double the difference penalty being applied to the 2013 payment of the person named. The person named was notified of the outcome of the inspection in a letter dated 18 December 2014 and advised of the right of a further appeal to the independently-chaired LPIS Appeals Committee. No such appeal has been received and the results of the verification visit have now been processed and payment due for 2013 Single Payment will issue to the person named as soon as possible.
An application under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 8 May 2014. Full advance and balancing payments under the Single Payment Scheme issued on 16 October and 1 December respectively to the nominated bank account .
