Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 May 2015
99. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he can account for the discrepancy between the digital record and the paper record posted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork in connection with an individual plot area in respect of that person's 2015 application under the basic payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18088/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ scheme application on 25 April 2014. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed to confirm eligibility under the schemes.
The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing inspection. This initial inspection identified discrepancies between the area declared and the area determined resulting in the area for the parcel concerned being reduced to 35.47 hectares. The person named was notified of this decision by letter issued on 23 December 2014.
A subsequent field inspection to verify the position on the ground determined that this parcel was not eligible for payment under the terms and conditions of the schemes and the area was reduced to 0 hectares. The eligible area of an additional parcel was also reduced by 1.5 hectares. As the total of the over-declaration in area is greater than 50% of the area determined the person named is not entitled to payment under the 2014 Single Payment and Disadvantaged Schemes. The person named will immediately be informed of the outcome of this field visit. The person named will also be informed of the right to seek a review of this decision. In the event that the person named is dissatisfied with the outcome of the review the decision can be appealed to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office, within 3 months.
