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Agriculture Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 February 2022

Thursday, 10 February 2022

Questions (176)

Seán Canney

Question:

176. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider amending the sheep welfare scheme to allow farmers who were forced out of the scheme for a year due to significant ill health or other exceptional circumstances to re-enter the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5970/22]

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Written answers

Where farmers participating in any of my Department’s schemes experience issues such as significant ill health or other exceptional circumstances, I would urge them to contact my Department at the earliest possible opportunity to outline their position and to discuss what options might be available to them.

The Terms and Conditions of the Sheep Welfare Scheme allow for the submission of appeals on the grounds of Force Majeure/Exceptional Circumstances, as defined under Regulation (EU) No. 1306/2013.

Where an applicant wishes to rely on Force Majeure/Exceptional Circumstances, the obligation is on the applicant to notify my Department in writing of the appeal within 15 working days form the date the applicant is in a position to do so.

Appeals received on the grounds of Force Majeure/Exceptional Circumstances are reviewed by staff within the Sheep Welfare Section of the Department and a written response is issued as to the outcome.

Where an applicant is not satisfied with the initial decision of the Department, the applicant has the opportunity to seek a review of the decision.

If an applicant is not satisfied with the outcome of that review, they have the opportunity to submit a further appeal to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office.

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