Vol. 490 No. 2
154 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, in view of the fact that the terms and conditions of the REP scheme as originally produced contained no specific reference to penalties or rates of fines, his Department is in order to apply this on plans submitted and approved under these terms and conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10083/98]
A system of compliance checking of REPS plans was introduced in May 1996 to improve the control and monitoring of REPS. The introduction of compliance checking was necessitated by the fact that spot checks carried out by my Department on REPS plans prior to March 1996 indicated that a significant number did not conform sufficiently with the REPS specification to enable payments to be made.
Page 7, sections 17 and 19 of the original scheme document, issued in May 1994, contains the relevant conditions which govern the introduction of the compliance checking system under REPS. The relevant clauses are as follows:
17 (b) states: If the applicant fails to abide by the conditions of the scheme or if there is any material change in the circumstances of the applicant which would be in conflict with the terms of the scheme all or such portion of aid given or to be given as the Minister may determine shall be reimbursed or withheld. The Minister also reserves the right to offset such amounts against other moneys payable by the Department to the applicant in such cases.
17 (c) states: The Minister reserves the right to review and, if necessary, to terminate payments under the scheme where no improvement to the environment is evident.
Section 19 states: The Minister reserves the right to alter from time to time the procedures to be followed in the operation of this scheme.
