Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2015
326. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will have the details set out in the correspondence on behalf of a farmer (details supplied) in County Westmeath dealt with immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25000/15]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas scheme application on 13 April 2015. The closing date for submission of applications under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme was 15 May 2014. Applications received in the Department between 16 May 2014 and 9 June 2014 were also accepted but with a late penalty of 1% for each working day. A 100% penalty is applicable to applications received after 9 June 2014. As the application under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme from the person named was received in my Department on 13 April 2015, and no proof of postage was received, a 100% late penalty was applied, therefore no payment under the Disadvantage Areas’ Scheme is due to issue. It is clearly set out in the Terms and Conditions that all Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas scheme application forms must be submitted directly by post, or delivered by hand, to the Department of Agriculture, Government Buildings, Portlaoise, Co. Laois. It is not permitted to submit an application form through any other office of the Department. In 2014 the only acceptable proof of postage for a 2014 Single Payment Scheme application is an Express post receipt or a Registered post receipt. A Certificate of Posting is no longer acceptable as proof of postage.
The person named was notified of this on 23 April 201 5 and informed that if they wish to appeal this decision, they should do so in writing within twenty one days. To date no appeal has been received from the person named. In the event that the person named wishes to seek a review of the decision he should do so in writing clearly setting out the grounds of the appeal.
