Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 March 2018
694. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will reconsider the approach taken with regard to an agri-environment options scheme, AEOS penalty in the case of a person (details supplied) in view of the specific circumstances involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11926/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into the AEOS2 scheme with a commencement date of 1 September 2011. His contract was due to run until the end of 2016. He received payments in respect of the 2011-2014 scheme years.
In 2015, an administrative check established that his AEOS parcels were declared on the Basic Payment Scheme application of another herd number. As he no longer met the eligibility criteria, as set out in the Terms and Conditions of the scheme, the contract was terminated and full recoupment of all payments made under the scheme was sought.
This decision was subsequently reviewed by the Department and the original decision was upheld in a letter from the Department to the herdowner concerned, dated 21 March 2017.
The person named appealed this decision to the Agricultural Appeals Office. The Agricultural Appeals Office notified the herdowner that the appeal was unsuccessful in a letter dated 22 August 2017.
