Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 June 2016
193. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will issue payment to a person (details supplied) under the agri-environment options scheme 3; the reason for the delay; why he applied a penalty and the monetary value of the penalty; if he requires the person to be a member of the Connemara Pony Breeders Society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16298/16]
View answerThe person named commenced their AEOS contract on 1st May 2013. Payment issued in respect of the 2013 Scheme year.
The applicant chose Conservation of Genetic Resources option as part of their AEOS contract. This action, which is paid in arrears, requires the applicant to be a member of an approved breed society, and to submit a payment claim on a yearly basis along with copies of monthly records of all registered animals held by the applicant.
Delays in payment occurred when the applicant did not send in the required documentation. The applicant has now confirmed that they do not wish to continue with the Conservation of Genetic Resources action, and payment in respect of the 2014 and 2015 scheme years have now been processed. Full payment due in respect of the 2014 Scheme year and part payment in respect of 2015 has issued, with the remaining 15% of 2015 to follow shortly.
AEOS is a voluntary scheme where applicants agree to abide by the Terms and Conditions on joining the Scheme. The Terms and Conditions of AEOS 3 state that where an action is not delivered a penalty of 10% of a full year’s payment will apply. In the case of the person named this amounts to some €78.00 which will be deducted from Department payments in due course.
