Written Answers Nos. 142-146
142. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32251/16]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2016 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint scheme's application on 13 April 2016. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases on-farm inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a ground eligibility inspection. This inspection is currently being processed with the intention of issuing any payments due as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.
143. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made on a review of a breach a nitrates regulation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32268/16]
View answerEU Regulations governing the administration of schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases, on farm inspections be completed to confirm eligibility under the schemes.
An administrative check found that the applicant named exceeded livestock manure application limits set out in the Nitrates regulations.
The applicant named was notified of the right to seek a review of this decision. To date no request for a review has been received by my Department. In the event that the person named is dissatisfied with the outcome of any such review the decision can be appealed to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office, within 3 months.
144. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32339/16]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2016 Basic payment/Areas of Natural Constraint scheme's application on 16 May 2016. 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 as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.
145. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal on a decision on a farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32343/16]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2016 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint scheme's application on 5 May 2016. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases on-farm inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a ground eligibility inspection. This inspection is currently being processed with the intention of issuing any payments due as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise that require clarification officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named. If the person named is dissatisfied with the outcome of the inspection process the person named will have the right to seek a review of the final decision.
146. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address the late payments to farmers caused by administration problems and delayed processing of satellite inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32211/16]
View answerEU regulations governing the administration of the Basic Payment Scheme and other area-based schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including Ground or Remote Sensing (Satellite) inspections where applicable, are fully completed before any payments are issued. This is to ensure that payments do not issue on ineligible areas/features, that only eligible applicants are paid and to avoid an applicant receiving an undue payment that would have to be recovered by my Department.
For those cases subject to administrative checks which have not passed the validation process, my Department enters into correspondence mainly through the issuing of query letters to applicants, in order to resolve these error cases.
In the case of Remote Sensing (Satellite) inspections, a comprehensive review of the satellite imagery received must be undertaken to ensure that the actual claimed area in the application form corresponds to the area farmed by the applicant, that the crop types are as claimed and that ineligible land or features are not included for payment purposes. The governing regulations prescribe that where it is not possible to make an accurate determination on the eligibility of a parcel or parcels of land by means of an assessment of the available imagery, a field visit must be undertaken to verify the position on the ground.
To date payments in excess of €735m have issued to approximately 113,000 applicants under the 2016 Basic Payments Scheme. In addition payments in excess of €179m have issued to some 83,500 applicants under the 2016 Areas of Natural Constraints.
Of the 6,500 cases selected for a Remote Sensing (Satellite) inspection across the various area-based schemes, payment of the 1st instalment of the Basic Payment Scheme has issued to 3,447 applicants to date. Payments under Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme have issued to 2,659 applicants to date.
Priority is being given to the processing of all outstanding cases subject to administrative checks or inspection and cases continue to be finalised to payment stage on a daily basis. Regular payment runs are being made for both the BPS & ANC Schemes to ensure prompt payment of fully processed cases.
