Written Answers Nos. 50 - 69
50. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if persons who were previously on a jobseeker's allowance and who were moved onto a supplementary welfare payment due to illness, but who are not entitled to illness benefit due to a lack of stamps, are entitled to the Christmas bonus in 2015, given that they are unable to seek work and are financially vulnerable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43121/15]
View answerOn Budget Day, I was pleased to announce a 75% Christmas Bonus, which is being paid this week to over 1.2 million long-term social welfare beneficiaries, such as pensioners, people with disabilities, and carers.
Long-term recipients of Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) or Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) are eligible for the bonus if they have been in receipt of their payment for 15 months, in recognition of their being wholly or mostly dependent on their social welfare payment for income.
In the situation outlined by the Deputy, if a person has been in receipt of SWA for 15 months, then he or she will be eligible to receive the Christmas Bonus. Time spent on another qualifying scheme immediately prior to the award of a SWA claim may also be used to establish eligibility, which includes time spent on Jobseeker's Allowance. Individuals in this situation should attend or contact their local office to establish their eligibility for the Bonus.
51. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive arrears of a Disability Allowance; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43123/15]
View answerDisability allowance arrears, less any overlapping payment received in the period, will issue to the person in question by their chosen payment method on 2 December 2015.
52. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for arrears under the domiciliary care allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43143/15]
View answerThe person concerned requested a review of the award date for her application on the 27 October 2015. The award date was revised on review and notification of this decision issued on 26 November 2015. Arrears due will issue with her regular payment on 15 December 2015.
53. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of a review of a carer's allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43149/15]
View answerFollowing a review of carer’s allowance, the person concerned has been awarded an increase of the allowance with effect from 23 December 2010. The first payment at the increased rate was issued to the person’s nominated post office on 26 November 2015.
Arrears of allowance due from 23 Dec 2010 to 18 November 2015 will issue shortly.
55. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will review an application for the back to education allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick, given new documentary evidence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43196/15]
View answerThis matter is being examined in the Department and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy within the next couple of days.
56. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding arrears of payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43197/15]
View answerThere has been an increase in the number of DA applications being received and decided over the past 18 months. This has led to an increase in the time being taken to process and issue arrears to successful applicants who were in receipt of another weekly social welfare payment during the period covered by the arrears. The Department keeps waiting times for its various payments under constant review and, as far as possible, endeavours to minimise delays for customers.
There are approximately 1500 disability allowance (DA) arrears currently awaiting action by a deciding officer. This number should be taken in the context of the current average number of DA applications processed per week, which is approximately 630.
Where an application for DA is being awarded and where no other social welfare payment was being received by the person in question since the date of the DA application, arrears issue immediately. However, in the majority of cases, the DA customer has been receiving another weekly social welfare payment while they were awaiting a decision on their DA application. In those cases, the amount paid to the person in question in the relevant period must be confirmed with the relevant Intreo office/scheme area so that the correct adjustment may be made to the arrears due. In some cases, once adjustment is made for the overlapping payment, arrears may be quite small or there may not be any arrears due at all. However, in such cases, it takes a number of weeks for the arrears to be finalised and issued.
57. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the rules, regulations and protocols applying to senior executives in State or semi-State companies relating to receiving and declaring benefits-in-kind, gifts, etc, particularly where conflicts of interest may arise in terms of discharging of duties or if there are tax implications; if he will provide a detailed list of the gifts, benefits, services, club memberships, etc, that may constitute benefit-in-kind and that should either not be accepted at all or publicly declared; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43094/15]
View answerI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that, with effect from 1 January 2004, PAYE, PRSI and USC must be operated by employers in respect of the taxable value of benefits-in-kind such as private use of a company car, free or subsidised accommodation, preferential loans, the payment of club subscriptions, medical insurance premiums and other non-cash benefits provided by them for their employees.
In addition any payments, gifts or benefits given to an employee, in relation to the exercise of the duties of their employment, by a third party connected with the employer are also chargeable to PAYE, PRSI, and USC. Where a benefit is provided to an employee by such a third party, that person is responsible for accounting for the PAYE, PRSI, and USC.
Benefits which are provided by a third party will not give rise to an income tax charge where:
- the provider of the benefit and the employer of the individual are not connected, either directly or indirectly, in any way,
- there is no reciprocal arrangement or scheme in place between the third party and the employer or anyone connected with the employer, and
- the employer of the individual has not incurred, either directly or indirectly, any expense in relation to the benefit
Details are available within Revenues Employers guide to BIK which is available at the following address: http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/leaflets/benefit-in-kind/third-party-benefits.html
I am also advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a form of capital acquisitions tax called gift tax is payable on the market value of a gift, which includes real property or the free use, occupation or enjoyment of property. There are various lifetime tax-free thresholds applicable, depending on the relationship between the donor and the beneficiary, below which gift tax is not payable. Gift tax on any amount above the particular threshold is currently charged at the rate of 33%. The threshold that applies to gifts between unrelated parties is currently €15,075.
There is a cumulative annual exemption of €3,000 for gifts taken by any one person from any one donor in each calendar year.
I am advised by my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform that the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 sets out, in Schedule 2, the registerable interests which must be declared by senior public officials and those in designated positions of employment or designated directorships. Such interests include certain gifts received by such persons. Declarable interests also extend to the interests of the spouse or child of the person of which he or she has actual knowledge and which could materially influence the person in or in relation to the performance of the functions of the position. In any case where such a function falls to be performed and he or she has knowledge that he or she or a connected person has a material interest in a matter to which the function relates, the official is not permitted to perform the function unless there are compelling reasons requiring him or her to do so.
Where a person to whom the 1995 Act applies has an interest that is not specified in the Second Schedule or has actual knowledge that his or her spouse or a child of the person or of his or her spouse has such an interest, the person may at any time prepare a statement of the interest and furnish it to the appropriate person or persons to whom such a statement is required.
58. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent of any income tax liabilities outstanding and affecting the estate of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43097/15]
View answerI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that having regard to the confidentiality provisions in section 851A of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, and given that it is not clear on whose behalf the question is asked, Revenue is precluded from providing the information requested.
Revenue has suggested that the personal representative or administrator of the estate concerned contact the Meath Revenue District, Abbey Mall, Abbey Road, Navan, Co Meath at 046-9033600 and all relevant matters can be clarified.
59. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number and names of lenders who have availed of funds from the Strategic Banking Corporation, and the value of Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland funds distributed to each one of these in 2015 to date. [43100/15]
View answerThe Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) was incorporated in September 2014 and since then the SBCI has made considerable progress in building relations with lending partners and in constructing the complex operational capability required to bring products to market. These include establishing operational capability with funders and lending partners, building internal systems and business processes and establishing a team to safely and effectively manage the funding provided on behalf of the State.
As the Deputy will be aware, the SBCI launched its first product programme on the 19 February 2015 and lending commenced on the 9 March 2015 through Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Banks Plc. In recent weeks, agreements have been signed with two new on-lenders; Finance Ireland and Merrion Fleet Management. A total funding of €476m has been committed to the four on-lenders. The breakdown is as follows:
|
On-Lender |
Funding Committed |
|
Allied Irish Banks (AIB) |
€200 M |
|
Bank of Ireland (BOI) |
€200 M |
|
Finance Ireland |
€51 M |
|
Merrion Fleet Management |
€25 M
|
Approximately €110m has been lent to 3200 SMEs up to the end of September 2015.
60. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of staff who were on a total remuneration package including pension payments, allowances and benefits of between €100,000 and €200,000, €200,001 and €300,000, €300,001 and €400,000, €401,000 and €500,000, and of €500,000 plus, at all of the covered banking institutions, the National Treasury Management Agency and National Asset Management Agency, in the years 2014 and 2015 to date, in tabular form. [43130/15]
View answerFollowing my request, the Irish banks in which the State has a majority ownership position now publish remuneration information on their websites and I have provided a link to the published documents for further information. The figures provided relate to the status at year end 2014, as information for 2015 won't be available until early next year following the close off of annual accounts.
AIB
https://investorrelations.aib.ie/content/dam/aib/investorrelations/docs/shareholder-information/salary-and-remuneration-data-as-at-31-december-2014.pdf
PTSB
http://www.permanenttsbgroup.ie/investors/reports-and-presentations/other-documents/2015.aspx
Bank of Ireland
The publicly available information in relation to remuneration is contained within the Bank of Ireland annual report for the year ended 31 December 2014, which can be found at https://www.bankofireland.com/fs/doc/wysiwyg/boi-annual-report-2014.pdf
NTMA
All NAMA staff are employees of the NTMA and under Section 42 of the National Asset Management Agency Act 2009, the NTMA assigns staff to NAMA. NAMA reimburses the NTMA for the costs of staff assigned to NAMA.
http://www.ntma.ie/download/publications/NTMAAnnualReport2014.pdf
Employees of the NTMA are members of the NTMA defined benefit superannuation scheme or else have Personal Retirement Savings Accounts. The pension benefits of members of the NTMA superannuation scheme prior to 1 January 2010 are based on final salary. The pension benefits of members who joined the scheme on or after 1 January 2010 are based on career average earnings. The NTMA superannuation scheme is a funded scheme, rather than funded on a pay as you go basis.
61. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he has given any consideration to allowing Irish persons who have emigrated for economic reasons to transfer their pensions, up to a certain threshold, to their country of residence, including to outside the European Union, without penal taxes being applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43134/15]
View answerThe transfer of an occupational pension scheme member's pension fund benefits or a Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSAs) contributor's PRSA assets to an overseas pension arrangement is permitted, subject to the transfer complying with the Occupational Pension Schemes and Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (Overseas Transfer Payments) Regulations, 2003 (the Regulations) and Revenue requirements. The Regulations are under the remit of the Minister for Social Protection and prescribe the conditions for transfers to arrangements established outside the State. These are as follows:
- the trustees or PRSA provider have satisfied themselves that the retirement benefits to be provided under the overseas arrangement are relevant benefits by obtaining written confirmation to that effect from the trustees, custodians, managers or administrators of an overseas arrangement to which the transfer is to be made, and
- the trustees or PRSA provider have satisfied themselves that the overseas arrangement has been approved by an appropriate regulatory authority for the country concerned, and
- the trustees or PRSA provider have received from the member of the scheme or the PRSA contributor such information in such form as may for the time being be approved by the Pensions Authority.
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that moving pension funds overseas in an effort to circumvent the requirements of Irish tax legislation may fall foul of the conditions under which the pension scheme was approved by Revenue as an exempt approved scheme or the conditions under which a PRSA product received Revenue approval. For this reason Revenue has additional requirements to ensure that such transfers are used to provide pension benefits. Prior to making any overseas transfer payments, the trustees or PRSA provider must be satisfied that:
(a) the member has requested a transfer,
(b) the overseas arrangement provides relevant benefits as defined by Section 770(1) of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, and
(c) the overseas arrangement has been approved by the appropriate regulatory authority in the country concerned.
In practice, the trustees or PRSA provider are required to obtain written confirmation to that effect from the administrator of the overseas arrangement to which the transfer is to be made.
If the transfer is to another EU Member State, the overseas scheme must be operated or managed by an Institution for Occupational Retirement Provision (IORP), within the meaning of the EU Pensions Directive, and must be established in a Member State of the European Communities which has implemented the Directive in its national law. The scheme administrator must be resident in an EU Member State. A transfer which complies with the above requirements may be made without prior reference to Revenue. A transfer to a scheme which is not operated by an IORPS must be referred to Revenue in advance of the transfer taking place.
If the transfer is to a country outside the EU, a transfer may not be made to a country other than the one in which the member is currently employed.
All transfer payments to an arrangement for the provision of retirement benefits outside the State made from an approved occupational pension scheme or PRSA under the provisions of the Overseas Transfer Payments Regulations may be made to facilitate bona fide transactions only. A member of an Occupational Pension Scheme or a PRSA contributor who directs the trustees/PRSA provider to transfer assets to an overseas arrangement must sign a declaration to the effect that the transfer conforms to the requirements of the Regulations and Revenue transfer rules, is for bona fide reasons and is not primarily for the purpose of circumventing pension tax legislation and Revenue rules.
No tax charge applies in respect of the actual transfer of occupational pension funds, and, providing the transfer complies with the Regulations and Revenue rules as set out above, the transfer may be made without further tax consequences.
Section 787G (1) Taxes Consolidation Act (TCA) 1997 provides that a tax charge arises where the value of any assets in a PRSA is paid by the PRSA administrator to the PRSA holder or to any other persons. Exceptions to the application of this tax charge are contained in section 787G (3) TCA 1997. However, where a PRSA fund is transferred to an overseas arrangement, such a transfer is not covered by any of the exceptions listed under section 787G (3) TCA 1997.
It is recognised that some conditions (such as the tax charge applying to PRSA transfers as outlined above) may be impacting on fund transfers being undertaken for legitimate reasons, particularly in the case of emigrants. These conditions are being reviewed. The ideal would be to ensure that overseas transfers of pension funds which are undertaken for legitimate reasons are facilitated as much as possible while also guarding against abuse of the arrangements. This is not always an easy balance to achieve. Nevertheless, it is hoped that some progress can be made in this area in the near future.
62. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Finance given that budget 2016 will allow a €550 earned income tax credit for self-employed persons and that persons receiving maintenance payments could be deemed as self-employed by the Revenue Commissioners, if he will extend this tax credit to maintenance payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43192/15]
View answerMaintenance payments can relate to maintenance in respect of a former spouse and/or children. The tax treatment of separated spouses depends on the circumstances which apply in each case. In broad terms the position with regard to the tax treatment of separated persons is as follows.
While in general separated couples are treated for tax purposes as if unmarried, they may, where a legally binding maintenance arrangement is in place, elect to be treated for tax purposes as if the separation had not taken place. However, the election to be treated for tax purposes as if still married is not a right of one spouse alone but rather is a joint election of both spouses.
The general position in the case of legally enforceable maintenance agreements is that, where the couple are treated for tax purposes as if unmarried, a tax deduction for maintenance payments for the benefit of his/her spouse is granted to the paying spouse, and the payments are taxable income in the hands of the receiving spouse. If an individual's sole income is from maintenance payments, this is taxed under the self-assessment system. However, if the couple jointly elect to be treated for tax purposes as if the separation had not taken place, then the payer does not receive a tax deduction for the maintenance payments and the receiving spouse is not taxable on them.
On the other hand, non-legally binding maintenance payments are not taxable in the hands of the receiving spouse and the paying spouse cannot claim a tax deduction for them.
Maintenance payments in respect of children are not taxable in the hands of the children or the receiving spouse, and the paying spouse cannot claim a tax deduction for the payments. The effect of this is that the payments are treated the same way as if the taxpayer was providing for the child out of his/her after-tax income. This is in line with the tax treatment of all other parents, where the cost of maintaining their children is not tax deductible.
The Finance Bill 2015 provides for a new tax credit known as the Earned Income Tax Credit. The tax credit is available in respect of earned income other than earned income which already qualifies for the Employee (PAYE) Tax Credit. The credit will be given at 20% of qualifying earned income subject to a maximum credit of €550 for 2016.
The definition of earned income is set out in section 3 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. This includes income arising from the exercise of an office or employment and income arising from the carrying on of a trade or profession.
Maintenance payments do not fall within the scope of the definition of earned income and, as such, will not be taken into account in determining an individual's entitlement to the Earned Income Tax Credit. The credit introduced in Budget 2016 is specifically targeted at active income, to support small business-owners across the country such as retailers, publicans, farmers and tradesmen who have an active trade or profession, and who do not have access to the PAYE credit.
63. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if towns located within the Finn Valley region in County Donegal, including Ballybofey, Castlefinn, Killygordon, Lifford, Liscooley and Stranorlar, are being assessed under the catchment flood risk assessment and management programme being developed by the Office of Public Works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43191/15]
View answerTwenty six Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs) are being assessed in County Donegal under the Office of Public Works' (OPW) Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. These were deemed to be areas of potentially significant flood risk under the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) which was completed in 2011. The Donegal AFAs are being assessed under the North Western – Neagh Bann (NW-NB) CFRAM study. Work on this study is progressing well. Further information is available on the study website: http://www.neaghbanncframstudy.ie/
The following is the list of AFAs in Donegal:
|
Townlands |
||
|
Ardara Ballybofey/Stranorlar Bridge End Bunbeg - Derrybeg Buncrana & Luddan Bundoran and Environs Burnfoot Carndonagh Kerrykeel (Carrowkeel) |
Castlefinn Clonmany Convoy Donegal Downings (Downies) Dunfanaghy Dungloe Glenties Killybegs |
Killygordon Letterkenny Lifford Malin Moville Newtown Cunningham/ (Newtowncunningham) Ramelton (Rathmelton) Rathmullan |
The CFRAM Programme, which is being undertaken by engineering consultants on behalf of the OPW working in partnership with the local authorities, involves the production of predictive flood maps for each location. A national public consultation on the draft flood maps is ongoing and will run until 23 December 2015. Details are available on the consultation website: http://maps.opw.ie/flood_draftmap_consult/
The Programme also involves the development of preliminary flood risk management options and flood risk management plans. The plans, which are scheduled for completion by the end of 2016, will include a prioritised list of measures, both structural and non-structural, to address flood risk in an environmentally sustainable and cost effective manner.
64. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will support a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43177/15]
View answerThe Deputy will understand that I cannot provide legal advice in relation to the employment or other rights applying to any individual’s specific circumstances. Independent legal advice should be sought in relation to any concerns an individual may have about their situation.
Ireland has a comprehensive body of employment rights, equality and industrial relations legislation, in respect of which the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is mandated to secure compliance. The Workplace Relations Customer Service Section provides information in relation to the rights and obligations under the relevant legislation. It can be contacted at Lo-call: 1890 80 80 90. The website www.workplacerelations.ie also provides extensive information on employment rights.
65. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the potential number of projected jobs that will be created under Enterprise 2025, by sector, by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43181/15]
View answerEnterprise 2025 sets out the potential to reach 2.180 million in employment and an overall unemployment rate of 6 percent by 2020. This is based on the premise of export led growth and the additional indirect jobs stimulated by the activities of exporting enterprises in the wider economy.
The ambition is predicated on taking the actions set out in Enterprise 2025 which are focused on supporting the productive sector, enhancing our relative competitiveness, leveraging existing comparative advantage in key sectors, addressing structural issues in the economy, improving productivity and the capacity of enterprises to innovate. Enterprise 2025 is a whole of enterprise strategy that leverages the potential across all sectors of the economy in manufacturing and services activities, both exporting and domestically oriented. The Government’s efforts will be on achieving a step change in enterprise performance across the whole enterprise base.
Our enterprise development agencies provide financial and advisory supports to enterprises that export from Ireland, and/or have the potential to do so including foreign and Irish owned entities - supporting direct job creation and stimulating indirect job creation across the wider economy.
Enterprise 2025 sets out the sectors in which Ireland has comparative advantage and that contribute the greater proportion toward exports. These sectors account for a significant proportion of the enterprise agency client portfolio and include ICT (hardware and software), Health Lifesciences (that includes pharma, biopharma and medical technologies), International Financial Services, Internationally Traded Services, Engineering/Industrial Products and Agri-Food. New areas of opportunity and untapped potential are highlighted in Enterprise 2025. The reality is that all sectors are evolving in response to market demands and enabled by technology developments – presenting considerable opportunities arising from convergence, new business models and new end market segments (such as smart ageing).
The agencies will contribute significantly to achieving the ambition for employment creation set out in Enterprise 2025. The enterprise agencies will each set annual targets in the context of the overall ambition. Annualised targets have not been set out in the Strategy, rather we have assessed where there is potential for employment growth across four broad sectoral cohorts that span the whole of the private sector economy as set out in Table 1 (and extends beyond the client cohort of the enterprise development agencies).
Table 1 - Enterprise 2025 Sectoral Ambition
|
- |
2014 (base year) |
2020 |
|
Building on Strengths. ICT, Lifesciences, Agri-food, Internationally Traded Services, International Financial Services, Engineering/industrial products |
283,100 |
345,000 |
|
Transforming employment intensive sectors. Tourism, Retail & wholesale, Construction, transport & logistics, primary production, other manufacturing/sub supply |
893,800 |
1,000,000 |
|
Realising untapped potential. Creative industries, green technologies, environmental services, marine and maritime, education services, healthcare services |
213,300 |
243,300 |
|
Other locally traded services and activities. Legal, account and other professional services. Business and consultancy services. Personal services. |
187,000 |
208,000 |
66. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive 2015 farm payments; the reason for the delay; if such delays are causing undue hardship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43049/15]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme application on 30 April 2015. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing eligibility inspection. This inspection is currently being processed with the intention of issuing any payments due under the Direct Payments Schemes as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.
67. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of payments under the single payment scheme for 2015 for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43061/15]
View answerThe person named submitted an application under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme on 10 April 2015.
Entitlements are allocated to a herd owner in 2015 under the Basic Payment Scheme based on the number of eligible hectares the farmer declares in either 2013 or 2015, whichever is lesser. As the person named had 100% penalty in 2013, no entitlement to Basic Payment Scheme entitlements ensues. An Official from my Department will contact the person named to advise them of this situation and their options to appeal.
68. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the suckler cow scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43084/15]
View answerThe person named registered thirteen animals under the 2014 Beef Data Programme. Payment has issued in respect of seven animals. The remaining six animals were ineligible for the Programme and as such no payment issued. Three were registered outside the required 27 day timeframe for registering animals with the Department’s Registration Agency. The remaining three animals were sold within the required 5 month retention period.
My Department wrote to the person named on 20 October 2015 outlining the position regarding the six unpaid animals. This letter provided the person named with an opportunity to appeal. The person named subsequently appealed the decision in a letter dated 9 November 2015. A letter has issued to the person named upholding the original decision.
69. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the basic payment scheme and the areas of natural constraint scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43085/15]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraints Schemes was received from the person named on 26 May, 2015. Processing of the application under both schemes has recently been finalised and payment will issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
