A case highlighted in the Office of the Ombudsman's annual report published this Wednesday involves a farmer who lost €27,550 in REPS 4 payments.
"In 2012 he changed ownership of lands and failed to notify the relevant section of the Department," the Ombudsman reported, resulting in the penalty and the cancellation of the last two stages of his REPS contract.
The Ombudsman found that the Department had breached its own procedures in dealing with this case.
"The local office had failed to issue an Adjusted Plan letter. This letter outlines the consequences of not submitting an adjusted plan to inform the Department of a change of land ownership. The local office had also failed to notify him of the termination of his contract," the Ombudsman noted.
The Department acknowledged this, refunded the €27,550 and allowed the farmer to remain in REPS, collecting €13,651 for the remainder of his contract. The full income boost to the farmer before and after the complaint therefore exceeded €40,000.
Complaints
The Office of the Ombudsman received 87 complaints from citizens relating to the Department of Agriculture last year.
The office also processed 105 complaints from that and previous years. Of these, 55 were rejected, 12 upheld and four received assistance. The remaining 34 were discontinued or outside the Ombudsman's remit.
Read more
Deane slams Department 'incompetence' over 'corrupt' official
'I cried for two nights': farmers in fear of Department 'bully'
No action after alleged entitlements irregularities by Department official
A case highlighted in the Office of the Ombudsman's annual report published this Wednesday involves a farmer who lost €27,550 in REPS 4 payments.
"In 2012 he changed ownership of lands and failed to notify the relevant section of the Department," the Ombudsman reported, resulting in the penalty and the cancellation of the last two stages of his REPS contract.
The Ombudsman found that the Department had breached its own procedures in dealing with this case.
"The local office had failed to issue an Adjusted Plan letter. This letter outlines the consequences of not submitting an adjusted plan to inform the Department of a change of land ownership. The local office had also failed to notify him of the termination of his contract," the Ombudsman noted.
The Department acknowledged this, refunded the €27,550 and allowed the farmer to remain in REPS, collecting €13,651 for the remainder of his contract. The full income boost to the farmer before and after the complaint therefore exceeded €40,000.
Complaints
The Office of the Ombudsman received 87 complaints from citizens relating to the Department of Agriculture last year.
The office also processed 105 complaints from that and previous years. Of these, 55 were rejected, 12 upheld and four received assistance. The remaining 34 were discontinued or outside the Ombudsman's remit.
Read more
Deane slams Department 'incompetence' over 'corrupt' official
'I cried for two nights': farmers in fear of Department 'bully'
No action after alleged entitlements irregularities by Department official
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