Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 April 2015
254. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on correspondence regarding entitlements in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14079/15]
View answerThe person named established 12.26 entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme valued at €7.96 giving a total value of €97.59.
The EU Regulations governing the Single Payment Scheme and the incoming Basic Payment Scheme prohibit the issuing of payment to any person whose total direct payment in a given year is less than €100. The person named therefore was not eligible to receive a direct payment in any year under the Single Payment Scheme including 2013. Consequently he does not hold an automatic right to establish new entitlements under the Basic Payment Scheme in 2015. In addition, as he did hold entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme, he is not eligible for an allocation of entitlements under the Scottish Derogation.
I have been aware for some time that there is a small group of farmers in this situation and have raised the issue with the EU Commission where I requested flexibility in applying the Scottish Derogation so as to include farmers such as the person named. To date the EU Commission has given no flexibility in this regard, however, my Department is continuing to communicate with the Commission to find a resolution to this issue.
