Vol. 510 No. 3
191 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of REP scheme participants in County Clare who have been penalised to date for areas of land farmed under or over declared; if these participants were informed that such a penalty existed; if so, when they were informed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22636/99]
Since the inception of the REP scheme, applicants have been informed by the Department through the scheme document and specifications that the farm area to be declared means the total area either owned or leased, jointly or singly, and that payment will only be made to applicants when evidence is provided, each year, of compliance with the agri-environmental plan, the Department's specifications and all other conditions of the scheme.
The revised REP scheme document introduced in January 1999 set out the new procedures to be implemented in the event of discovery of an over or under-declaration of land, that is, the imposition of a 50% penalty.
Before these procedures were introduced, such contraventions could result in the exclusion of participants from the scheme and a full recoupment of moneys already paid.
Since the introduction of the REP scheme, 36 applicants from County Clare have had penalties imposed for over or under-declaration of land farmed and/or incorrectly showing farm boundaries.
192 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason retrospective penalties are being applied in County Clare in view of the fact that his Department's Circular 25/99 of 1 June 1999 states that increased penalties will apply from 1 July 2000. [22637/99]
Circular 25/99, inter alia, deals with new and amended penalties for non-compliance with the REP scheme. The circular outlines the procedures to be followed by district superintendents, area superintendents and rural development and environment inspectors when applying penalties. Reduced penalties apply with effect from 1 January 1999, while increased penalties will apply from 1 July 2000.
No particular difficulties arising in county Clare with regard to the imposition of increased penalties have been brought to my attention, but if the Deputy is in a position to indicate particular instances I will investigate them.
