Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2013
1075. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a single farm payment is no longer paid to to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; the options available to them to have this decision changed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17634/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe persons named became registered as owners of a herd number on the 16th May 2008. The previous registered herd owner held single payment entitlements but they were not transferred to the persons named when they took over the herd number. The previous registered herd owner is deceased.
An official from my department wrote to the persons named on the 30th June 2009 advising them of the need to transfer the entitlements from the account of the previous registered herd owner to their account. The necessary form to make the application was also provided. The persons named did not make an application. As they hold no single payment entitlements they do not qualify for any single payments.
An official from my department wrote to the solicitors administering the estate of the previous registered herd owner on the 18th January 2011 cautioning that the single payment entitlements were at risk because of non usage. No response was received. The official wrote again on the 11th January 2012 advising that the entitlements had reverted to the National Reserve for non usage.
One of the persons named wrote to my department on the 13th February 2012 appealing the reversion of the entitlements, but as the appeal did not disclose any force majeure case, the appeal was refused.
