Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 March 2015
390. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out the reason a payment under the single payment scheme was reduced in respect of a person (details supplied), as outlined in his statement on 2 February 2015; the area of land if any that this covers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12056/15]
View answerAn application under the 2009 Single Farm payment scheme was received from the person named on 13 May 2009 declaring a total of 14.79 hectares. Following a Ground Inspection a number of over-declarations were identified which were greater than 50% of the area determined. This resulted in no payment being made for 2009, the person named lodged an appeal and the decision of the Agriculture Appeals Office was to uphold the Department's decision.
The EU Regulations provide for the application of a Multi Annual Sanction equal to the amount that would have been paid on the ineligible area of 5.70 ha and my Department sought to recoup this amount from subsequent payments which were due. In any event, no Single Farm Payment applications were submitted since 2010 and the overpayment was not recouped.
As the time frame allowed for the recoupment of such fines has elapsed, this debt no longer applies and an official of my Department will be in direct contact with the person named to clarify the position.
