Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 October 2015
35. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a penalty revision for 2014 in respect of the rural environment protection scheme was issued to a person (details supplied) in County Galway when the person understood that he had successfully appealed the matter as a result of force majeure circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35907/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was paid his 75% 2014 REPS4 payment in the amount of €1,137.07 in June 2015. A deduction in the amount of €2,021.29 had been made to his gross payment and the person named was notified of the reason for the penalties by letter from the Department.
The balancing 25% 2014 payment due in the amount of €1,052.79 was made in early July 2015 and unfortunately the penalties previously deducted were inadvertently refunded at the same time. The penalty amount of €2,021.29 was subsequently re-imposed on the person named, pending a full review of the file.
Department officials have since reviewed the file and as a result the penalties imposed are being reduced from a rate of 48% to 21%, which in turn will significantly decrease what falls to be recovered. The person named was notified of this review in writing from the Department on 29 September 2015 and arrangements are currently being made to refund on the basis of the reduced penalty amount as soon as possible. My Department very much regrets the inconvenience and confusion caused in this case.
