As indicated in a previous reply, an application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 1 May 2008. The details of the over-claims in respect of the areas declared are as follows. This application was selected for a satellite eligibility inspection which required a follow-up field visit. During this visit, discrepancies were found in relation to 4 parcels (D28306026, D28306048, D28306049 and D28306047). As a result of these discrepancies, the area claimed of 35.88ha was reduced to 33.02ha.
If the total area found is not sufficient to support the number of entitlements held, penalties must also be applied in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Scheme. In this case, the number of entitlements held by the person named is 36.85. As the difference between the area declared and the area found is more than 3%, under EU Regulations, the difference between the area found and the area claimed is doubled and deducted from the area found. As a result, the area eligible for payment under the Single Payment Scheme was 27.30 hectares.
The person named was informed of these findings on 24 March 2009 and of his right to seek a review of this decision within 21 days and of his right to appeal the outcome of any such review. An appeal was received from the person named, and it is currently under consideration. The person named will be advised of the outcome of the appeal, in writing, and, should he be dissatisfied with the outcome, will then have the opportunity to appeal to the Agricultural Appeals Office.