Vol. 566 No. 1
192 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a reduction of 20% was imposed on a REP scheme payment in the name of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if this person will be given the opportunity to appeal the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11696/03]
A penalty of 20% of his annual payment was imposed on the person named because in the course of a compliance inspection his farm boundaries were found not to be stockproofed, as is required under the specifications of the rural environment protection scheme. A letter explaining the penalty and affording him the right of local appeal issued to him on 8 April last and he was invited to put forward by 23 April any explanation as to why the penalty should not be applied. No reply was received. My Department then wrote to him on 2 May notifying him formally of the imposition of the penalty and of his right to appeal directly to the agriculture appeals office.
