Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 April 2015
358. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of agri-environment options scheme 3 applications that have yet to receive payment for 2014; the number of applicants who had a penalty and did not appeal that penalty and who have yet to be paid in respect of 2014; when such applicants can expect to receive payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15440/15]
View answerUnder the EU Regulations governing the scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check of all applications, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. Successive EU audits have made it absolutely clear that compliance with the Regulations must be strictly adhered to and that all administrative checks must be passed and eligibility conditions met before payment issues. As a result, my Department is obliged to ensure that individual payments will not issue until all aspects of a farmer’s application are in order, all outstanding documentation provided and all queries resolved.
Outstanding payments under AEOS 3 are largely due to unresolved queries associated with applications and in most instances officials in my Department will have contacted the applicants concerned with the intention of issuing payment as soon as possible. Of the 5,856 eligible applications, 909 cases are still being processed and have not yet received payment.
There are 120 inspection cases completed that have a penalty as a result of the inspection. It is expected to commence payments, less penalties, in these cases in early May, regardless of whether there is an appeal or not. Any adjustment to payments as a result of an appeal will be processed in due course following the determination of each appeal.
