Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 October 2014
287. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare was penalised on the disadvantaged areas scheme 2013 when they claimed for an area of 56.89 hectares which they confirm is far in excess of the maximum payable area for disadvantaged areas scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40087/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Disadvantaged Areas Scheme provides for payment at crop group level. Crop groups are classified as an area that benefits from the same rate of aid under the Scheme. This means that the area declared as Mountain Type Grazing, More Severely Handicapped and Less Severely Handicapped Coastal Areas with Specific Handicaps, are classified as separate crop groups. Payments are made in order of first to Mountain Type Grazing, second to More Severely Handicapped Lowland and third to Less Severely Handicapped Lowland and Coastal Areas with Specific Handicaps, so as to maximise the amount payable under the scheme. Under the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, the person named declared lands in both the Mountain Type Grazing and More Severely Handicapped crop groups. Following a review of the land parcels declared by the person named, a number of ineligible features were identified in the Mountain Type Grazing crop group with the determined area reduced accordingly.
