Vol. 499 No. 1
435 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a REP scheme payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath in view of the fact that he is urgently in need of payment due to the current adverse economic situation pertaining in farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1890/99]
The person concerned submitted a third year application under the REP scheme on 31 October 1997.
At a pre-payment inspection which took place on 16 June 1998 a number of deficiencies were found in the plan. The applicant and his planner were notified of these. A revised plan was requested and this was received on 14 October 1998. Additional lands had been leased by the applicant since 1 March 1998 but these had not been declared for REPs purposes. A further revised plan including the leased lands was submitted on 11 December 1998. The plan is now considered to be in order and payment will be made shortly. However, there will be deductions from the payment due to disposal of lands and penalties totalling 20 per cent for breaches of the scheme conditions will also be deducted from the payment.
The applicant lodged a fourth year payment application on 10 September 1998 and this is currently being examined.
