Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2015
349. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in a payment under the agri-environment options scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; when the applicant may expect to be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23081/15]
View answerA Department review of the non-productive capital investment claims submitted by applicants under AEOS was undertaken in 2014. This review identified irregularities with documentation submitted for reimbursement in some of these claims. A full Department investigation was then initiated, which in turn led to the matter being referred to the Gardaí. Payments to applicants under review have been deferred pending the outcome of the investigation. The application of the person named is one of these cases.
The initial stage of this investigation is now concluded and my Department has written to the person named on 10 June last seeking further evidence to support their claim for payment that they have previously submitted. Suitable evidence to verify what has been claimed as expenditure incurred would include a certified copy (by the issuing bank) of the cheque used to pay for the goods from the participant’s bank, supported by a bank-statement and/or documentation that was submitted to Revenue when the participant was making normal returns to that Department. Where satisfactory proofs are provided payments will then be processed.
