Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 October 2023
73. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to review the proportionality of financial penalties being imposed on farmers for administrative errors; if he believes that his Department is taking account of proportionality in deciding penalties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46303/23]
View answerAt the outset, it must be noted that CAP payments, including those made under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme, are governed by EU regulations and are subject to rigorous audit and control by the European Commission.
It is important that applicants meet all the eligibility requirements for the ANC Scheme and other area-based schemes they have applied to participate in in order to avoid reduced payments.
Where applicants do not meet scheme requirements, their payments may be reduced, and penalties applied. Penalties under the ANC scheme use the same basis for calculation as all other area based schemes including but not limited to the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) , Eco Scheme, Protein Aid scheme, Straw Incorporation Measure, Organic Farming Scheme and ACRES.
These reductions/penalties were reviewed as part of the new CAP and were reduced significantly. They are set out and agreed under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) which is in place until 2027.
Penalties can apply for under and over declaration of areas. It’s important to note that applicants are advised at the time of application of their digitised eligible area. Applicants may then choose to claim more or less than the advised digitised area. Where they claim more or less than the eligible area available to them, they are presented with a warning message during the application process.
These warnings and reminders are there to ensure the farmer is fully aware of the schemes he/she is or is not applying for and the area they are claiming.
The farmer can choose to accept these warnings but must do so by ticking a box during the application process.
The online application process has been streamlined over many years to ensure quick, efficient, and responsive processing and prompt payment to farmers. The application process is reviewed annually to make it is as clear and straight forward as possible. Every effort is made by the Department to improve the quality of applications with the aim of lowering administrative errors and allowing payments to issue in good time.
