Vol. 550 No. 4
230 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is requested to return a REP scheme payment; if this decision will be reconsidered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8842/02]
The annual submission of a payment application form is a mandatory requirement of the rural environmental protection scheme. Failure to do so results in termination of participation and the recoupment of all payments made previously.
To receive his third-year payment in full, the person named should have lodged his application by 1 November 2000. If he lodged it by 31 December 2000, he would have received a reduced payment for the year. If he had lodged it by 31 October 2001, he would have received no payment for the year but could have remained in the scheme.
On 13 September 2001 my Department sent the person named a reminder letter, warning him that to stay in REPS he had to lodge his third year payment application form by 31 October 2001. It was made clear to him that otherwise his participation would be terminated and he would have to refund the payments he had already received.
As he failed to lodge the form within the time specified, notwithstanding the reminders he was sent, my Department had no option but to terminate his participation in the rural environment protection scheme and seek to recoup all moneys received to date.
