Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 February 2021
1093. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 484 of 5 February 2019, if the current outstanding payments in relation to commonage at a location (details supplied) will be expedited; if the review suggested in February 2019 has been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10211/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe commonage in question is currently overclaimed. This means that the sum of all the claims exceeds the total eligible area of the commonage. Prior to this issue arising, the commonage was allocated to claimants based on a signed affidavit. However, in recent years, another individual has claimed a share of the commonage, resulting in the commonage going into overclaim.
While this matter has been under review, the Department has paid all individuals concerned on their lowland. However, it will not be possible to proceed with payment on the commonage for 2020 or future years without a new affidavit being drafted, signed by all individuals involved and submitted to the Direct Payments Unit of my Department.
In that context, a letter will shortly issue to all claimants informing them of the requirement for an updated affidavit to allow payment on the commonage to issue.
