Agriculture Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 June 2022

Thursday, 23 June 2022

Ceisteanna (451)

Michael Creed

Ceist:

451. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the situation regarding GLAS penalties for a person (details supplied) in County Cork; the total penalties that applied in respect of this payment and the years involved in respect of the penalties applied; if this case has exhausted all internal appeals; if the file has been referred to the Independent Appeals Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33293/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named applied successfully for GLAS 3 with a contract commencement date of 1st January 2017. The GLAS contract was selected for an on-farm inspection on 02nd March 2020. Notification of the inspection findings issued by letter 23rd February 2021. A 100% baseline penalty was applied to the Traditional Hay Meadow action. This penalty of €3,122.23 was applied to the 2019 Balance payment.  The letter of February 23rd 2021 outlined the option of requesting a review of this decision. The Department have no record of receiving a request to review this decision.

During the course of the on farm inspection, in addition to non-compliance with the GLAS actions, the person named was also found to have exceeded the maximum Phosphorus allowance. The penalty of €249.99 was applied to the 2020 Advance payment.

Had the applicant requested an internal review, the option of a further appeal to the Agricultural appeals Office would have been open to him