Written Answers Nos. 35 - 38
35. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a penalty revision for 2014 in respect of the rural environment protection scheme was issued to a person (details supplied) in County Galway when the person understood that he had successfully appealed the matter as a result of force majeure circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35907/15]
View answerThe person named was paid his 75% 2014 REPS4 payment in the amount of €1,137.07 in June 2015. A deduction in the amount of €2,021.29 had been made to his gross payment and the person named was notified of the reason for the penalties by letter from the Department.
The balancing 25% 2014 payment due in the amount of €1,052.79 was made in early July 2015 and unfortunately the penalties previously deducted were inadvertently refunded at the same time. The penalty amount of €2,021.29 was subsequently re-imposed on the person named, pending a full review of the file.
Department officials have since reviewed the file and as a result the penalties imposed are being reduced from a rate of 48% to 21%, which in turn will significantly decrease what falls to be recovered. The person named was notified of this review in writing from the Department on 29 September 2015 and arrangements are currently being made to refund on the basis of the reduced penalty amount as soon as possible. My Department very much regrets the inconvenience and confusion caused in this case.
36. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the areas of natural constraint scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35908/15]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme was received from the person named on 21 April 2015. Processing of the application is currently in progress. On completion of this process, the application will be further reviewed with a view to payment issuing directly to the nominated bank account of the person named at the earliest possible date.
37. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the areas of natural constraint scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35910/15]
View answerNo application for the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme has been received to date from the person named. An official from my department has been in contact with the Agricultural Advisor who represents the individual concerned, and the application is in the process of being submitted to the relevant unit.
Upon receipt of the application, it will be processed at the earliest possible date.
38. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments under the areas of natural constraint scheme and the basic payment scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35917/15]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Basic Payments/Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme was received from the person named on 30 March 2015. Processing of the application under the ANC Scheme is currently in progress. On completion of this process, the ANC application will be further reviewed with a view to payment issuing directly to the nominated bank account of the person named at the earliest possible date.
In relation to the Basic Payment Scheme and Greening Payment, I am pleased to confirm that advance payments will commence in Ireland on 16 October 2015, which is the earliest that payments can commence under the governing EU Regulations. In addition, I can confirm that the level of the advance payment is set at 70% for 2015 rather than the normal 50%. The increase in the advance payment for 2015 is, in particular, due to the difficulties encountered in the dairying and pigmeat sectors. Payments under the Basic Payment Scheme will commence in respect of applicants whose applications are fully processed and who have no outstanding errors from 16 October 2015.
