Flood Prevention Measures

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 November 2020

Tuesday, 10 November 2020

Questions (829)

Denis Naughten

Question:

829. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to a previous discussion with him, if correspondence (details supplied) issued to farmers within the catchment area of Louth Finshinagh, County Roscommon will be withdrawn in view of the fact that the OPW funded report by Roscommon County Council regarding the lack of cost effective mitigation measures for flooded farmland has only been published; the basis for issuing such correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35380/20]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

All applications for schemes such as the Basic Payment Scheme are subject to the standard range of verification checks as required under the relevant EU legislation. As part of this process, my Department issues letters to applicants where issues such as potential overclaims arise. In such cases, the information available to my Department is outlined to the applicant. Such letters are not issued to allege wrongdoing, and in all such cases the applicant is afforded the opportunity to submit any information that s/he deems relevant in order to respond to the identification of a potential error on such applications for payment.

All such appeals, including those within the area referenced by the Deputy, are dealt with on a case-by-case basis. My Department has received some correspondence in this regard in relation to the issues raised, and the new information provided is currently being reviewed in accordance with the standard practices.