Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 1

Written Answers. - Rural Environment Protection Scheme.

John Perry

Ceist:

412 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will intervene on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim with regard to his REP scheme application and waive or reduce the amount owed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1803/01]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

A compliance inspection on 18 June 1998 revealed contraventions of the REP scheme by this participant incurring penalties which amounted to 110% of his annual payment. The agri-environmental specifications then governing the scheme provided that where penalties amounted to more than an annual payment, the farmer who incurred them had his or her participation in the scheme terminated and all aid paid up to then had to be refunded to the Department.

The participant made an appeal and his case was reviewed by the national REPS appeals committee on 14 October 1999. The appeals committee upheld the original decision to terminate his participation and recoup all the aid he had received. The appeals committee is independent and its decisions are final.

As the person named failed to repay the amount he owed, my Department has had no option but to make arrangements to recoup it from payments for which he is eligible under other schemes administered by my Department.

My Department has no discretion to waive the penalty itself, which is a debt to EU funds. In the circumstances outlined by the Deputy, however, my Department is prepared to waive any further interest on the debt if the person named gives his agreement to the recoupment of the debt itself from payments under other schemes, or alternatively if he is prepared to make a commitment to repay the balance due and subsequently carries this out. If he wishes to repay the balance by instalments, my Department will consider a proposal to that effect. In the absence of agreed repayment arrangements, outstanding debts attract interest at an annual rate of 8% which is set by EU regulation. The person named has been informed of my Department's position as set out above.