Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 October 2012
545. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a fine in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44734/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe final instalment of €1,811.46 of an existing REPS 3 debt that arose in 2009 was netted against a Disadvantaged Area Payments which issued on 25 September 2012. As this Scheme is co-funded by the EU, debts must be recovered at the earliest possible opportunity. It is not now possible to repay this recouped amount to the person named. In addition the person named joined the Organic Farming Scheme in June 2008 and received payments for the first four years of the contract. The Organic Farming Scheme is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue.
Following an inspection in July 2011 by officials in my Department a discrepancy was discovered between the land claimed on the Single Farm Payment application and the Organic Farming Scheme. This resulted in an overpayment of €1,371.81 on his Organic Farming Scheme payment. This sum will now be recouped from the person named. A letter has issued to the person named on 8 October informing him of this fact and giving the person named a right of appeal to the Agricultural Appeals Office, Portlaoise, Co. Laois.
