Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 November 2015
97. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has received a payment under the agri-environment options scheme 3; the exact position in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41902/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently examining approximately 400 cases that submitted invoices from one particular company to verify and support claims under the non-productive capital investment action of AEOS. It is known that in some cases the invoices submitted were for amounts different to those actually paid by the participants.
Funding provided under the scheme comes partly from the EU and partly from the National Exchequer. There is a requirement and obligation to ensure that the expenditure claimed by scheme participants reflects the reality of what took place. For that reason my Department wrote to participants requesting alternative proof that the amounts claimed were in fact the amounts paid.
The person named above was written to on 11 June 2015 regarding the non-productive capital investment claim that they had submitted. This letter requested the submission of alternative verifiable proof to support one of the invoices that was included in the claim for expenditure incurred. A reply to this letter was received on 3 July last. In their reply a lesser amount of expenditure than the original claimed amount, was verified. In accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No. 65/2011 a reduction of the difference between the claimed amount and the eligible amount must be imposed.
A further check was then carried out on all measures that were paid under the Scheme to the person concerned. This check revealed a further over payment on an action. A letter informing the person concerned about this over payment and also about the penalty to be imposed was issued on 17 November last. The letter also informed the person concerned of their right to have the decision in relation to the penalty reviewed.
The file is now being processed based on the above and outstanding payments will be made shortly.
