Written Answers Nos. 49 - 54
49. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the agri-environment options scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8741/16]
View answerThe person named commenced their AEOS contract on 1 September 2010. Payment issued for the 2010-2014 Scheme years.
Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. The application of the person named was also selected for an on-farm inspection which took place on 7 August 2015. During this inspection non-compliances with the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme were noted in relation to the Broad Leaf Tree Planting and Species Rich Grassland actions which resulted in a penalty being incurred. The application will now be processed on the basis of the inspection findings and payment in respect of the 2015 Scheme year, less penalty, will issue shortly.
50. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) did not receive a payment for 2015 under the areas of natural constraint scheme; the minimum livestock units required to qualify; the number of horse passports submitted as proof of stocking; the number of passports accepted and rejected; the reasons for the rejection of some; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8742/16]
View answerAn application under Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) 2015 was received from the person named on 28 May 2015. Initial examination of the application indicated that the holding had not met the required minimum stocking density per the Terms and Conditions of the scheme. The holding is required to meet a minimum stocking density of 12 livestock units.
Documentation in respect of eleven equines was submitted to the department, of which only four equines were found to be meeting the eligibility criteria of the scheme. Of the remaining seven equines – three were found to be above the age of five with no foals registered in the previous two years, an additional two are confirmed as no longer on the holding, with the remaining two only registered to the person named in February 2016 and therefore ineligible for consideration under 2015 scheme year.
51. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a young farmers scheme top-up for 2015 for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8758/16]
View answerThe person named submitted applications to my Department under the ‘young farmer’ category of the 2015 National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme. The processing of these applications involves administrative checks and verification of land details submitted under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme application. These checks are required under the EU Regulations pertaining to the scheme. All such checks are currently being finalised and payment under the National Reserve and Young farmer scheme will issue to the person named very shortly.
52. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for clarification of entitlements under the basic payment scheme, with particular reference to the administration of estates, as outlined in correspondence (details supplied); to provide clarity in respect of this issue to enable persons to prepare applications under the 2016 scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8778/16]
View answerBasic Payment scheme entitlements which were allocated and activated in 2015 may be transferred in 2016 by a variety of methods including inheritance, sale and lease. Where entitlements are the subject of inheritance they must be inherited by the rightful beneficiary in the first instance prior to transferring them by lease. Entitlements may not be leased out by the Reps of a deceased farmer. In the event that a Grant of Representation is not available at the time of application to inherit the entitlements, an Indemnity on the Transfer of Entitlements will be accepted in lieu. The Indemnity Form is available on my Department’s website. Basic Payment Scheme entitlements may be used by the Reps of a deceased farmer in 2016 by submitting a Basic Payment scheme application form on behalf of the estate.
A person inheriting Basic Payment Scheme entitlements, who does not intend to farm, may apply for a BPS Transfer Number by contacting the Inheritance Enquiry Unit of my Department at lo-call 0761 064428. This number can be used for the purpose of inheriting the entitlements and either leasing or selling them to an active farmer who will be in a position to use the entitlements.
The Single Payment Scheme was introduced to Ireland in 2005 and operated until 31 December 2014. Payment entitlements allocated under that scheme were not attached to land and formed a separate proprietary asset in the estate of a deceased farmer. As such, where payment entitlements were not specifically mentioned in the will, they formed part of the residue of the estate. In 2015 the Basic Payment Scheme was introduced to Ireland and Regulation 1307/2013 provided for the allocation of payment entitlements. The relevant Division within my Department is currently in consultation with my Department’s Legal Services Division in relation to situations where a will is silent on payment entitlements.
My Department’s Inheritance Enquiry Unit provides advice and expertise on all issues relating to inheritance and administration of estates as relevant to all Department schemes and services and may be contacted at 0761 064 428.
53. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8787/16]
View answerThere are a number of applications remaining, including that of the person named, which have not passed all of the Department’s pre-payment validation checks for the 2015 part-year payment. The Department is continuing to investigate these issues including the correction of any IT or data issues with a view to all these remaining cases meeting the payment validation checks so that they will be paid the full amount of their 2015 part-year payment when the 2015 GLAS balancing payment issues.
54. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an overclaim on a payment to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8789/16]
View answerThe person named submitted an application for the Single Payments Scheme on 24 April 2014. He was notified of an over claim and incurred a 3– 20% penalty. The person named submitted further evidence for review. On completion of that review, the reduction in the found area was less than 3% and no penalty was applied. A recalculation of the payment was undertaken and a refund was paid to the nominated bank account of the person named on 20 April 2016.
