Vol. 538 No. 3
164 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a REP scheme appeal for a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be finalised; and if the recoupment order can be postponed until the appeal is complete. [17986/01]
On 27 November 2000, my Department notified the person named that he had been found to be ineligible to participate in REPS because of a number of issues relating to leased lands. Following correspondence from his planner, my Department reviewed the matter again. However there were no grounds to alter the decision. The planner, as agent of the applicant, was notified accordingly on 30 March 2001 and I have arranged for a copy of this letter to be sent to the person named in case he may not be aware of it. The decision is my Department's final position on the matter.
My Department is bound by EU regulations to recover the payment that the person named had received before he was found to be ineligible for REPS. As in all cases where funds have to be recouped, my Department will consider any reasonable proposals from the person named as to the method of recovery.
