Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020
764. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter regarding a cut to an ANC payment to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8641/20]
View answerThe person named submitted an application under the 2019 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) on 2 May 2019.
My Department reviews all agricultural land parcels in the country on a rolling basis with the whole country being reviewed every three years. All the latest available imagery is reviewed, and any ineligible features identified within a land parcel are removed. The area of the parcel is adjusted where necessary and, if appropriate, any overpayment is addressed. Scheme applicants are notified accordingly, and they are given the option, should they wish, to seek a review of any overclaims arising from this process.
Land parcels submitted under the 2019 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) by the person named were subject to this imagery review process. Following this review, the Maximum Eligible Areas (MEA) of two parcels were reduced which led to overclaims on these parcels and this resulted in a reduction of over 10% being applied to his 2019 BPS payment resulting in an overpayment being applied.
A letter issued to the person named on 26 March 2020 outlining the position and advised him of the options available to him, including the option of submitting geo-tagged photographs. An agricultural advisor submitted a response on behalf of the person named on 17 April 2020 stating that they did not agree to the reduced MEA on one of the parcels but did not submit any geo-tagged photographs as evidence to support this. Officials from my Department have been in contact with both the person named and the advisor. Should any geo tagged photographic evidence be received, a further review will be undertaken of these parcels under the 2019 BPS.
With regards to the ANC, the person named claimed 39.27 hectares. However, the maximum eligible area for payment under ANC is 34 hectares. The person named has been paid in full on 34 hectares on foot of his 2019 ANC application.
