Agriculture Scheme Appeals

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 February 2021

Wednesday, 10 February 2021

Questions (984)

John McGuinness

Question:

984. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay of almost 20 years in acknowledging the error by his Department in not including two reference years relative to area aid in the case of a person (details supplied); the number of meetings held during this period with the representatives of an association regarding the issue; if the submissions from Teagasc and other documents have been considered; if he will arrange a meeting between him, his officials, the farmer and the association to resolve matters given the ongoing negative impact being experienced by the family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6444/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Officials in my Department have reviewed the case of the person named.

This review has taken into account all records available to us, including representations from elected officials and farmer representative bodies and no error has been found regarding the allocation of entitlements based on the reference years and, therefore, no delay has taken place with regard to this case.

The person named submitted an area aid application form in 2001but not in 2000 or 2002. Therefore, in 2005, 5.45 payment entitlements were allocated to him on this basis. When the Single Payment Scheme concluded on the 31st December 2014 and was replaced by the Basic Payment Scheme, 5.81 payment entitlements were established for the person named according to the rules of the scheme.

The person named has the right to appeal this decision to the Agriculture Appeals Office as previously notified to him.