Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 October 2024
155. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an appeal lodged by persons (details supplied) under the young farmer supports scheme will be expedited; and if the sanctions being suggested will be put on hold until a final decision is made. [39561/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe persons named submitted an application under the 2023 Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers (CISYF), with the second named person as the young farmer, and this application was subsequently selected for inspection. The on-the-spot-check involves an interview with the young farmer and a series of checks to verify that the young farmer has financial and managerial control of the holding. Following completion of this inspection the applicants were deemed not to be meeting the eligibility requirements, and this decision was upheld following a review requested by the applicants.
The applicants subsequently submitted an appeal to the independent Agricultural Appeals Office and officials in my Department have been advised that the oral hearing of this appeal has been scheduled for 10th October 2024.
As set out in the Terms and Conditions of the scheme, where an applicant is deemed not to be meeting the eligibility requirements of the scheme following an on-the-spot-check, they are excluded from receiving aid under the scheme for the year concerned. In addition, a penalty applies which is calculated on the basis of the amount the applicant would have received in the scheme year concerned.
EU Regulations governing the operation of the CISYF set down the requirements for the recovery of debts. These regulations require my Department to recover debts within a reasonable timeframe and also provide for my Department to offset such amounts against any future payments in favour of the beneficiary. In this regard, the persons named have contacted my Department’s Accounts Division and alternative arrangements have been agreed.
