Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 May 2015
348. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out the position regarding payments under the agri-environment options scheme in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18277/15]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2010 Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 1) with effect from 1 September 2010 and received payments in respect of the scheme years 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.
However, the cross check with the 2014 Single Payment system revealed that two of the AEOS parcels on this persons contract had been declared on the Single Payment Scheme application of another herd owner. Under the Terms and Conditions of the scheme, all undertakings under AEOS must be continued for a minimum period of five years. As this did not happen for the parcels in question they are no longer eligible for payment under the scheme and payments made on these parcels must be recouped.
The person name was informed in writing of this decision. The person named subsequently appealed this decision to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office. The appeal is still ongoing.
