DARD Dithering on Single Farm Payment Appeals
08 November 2007
Jim Allister QC MEP has condemned DARD for the time being taken to process Single Farm Payment appeals.
The MEP said,
“I have written to the Permanent Secretary, wanting to know when the current backlog in Appeals will be cleared.
I know of cases where appellants are still seeking redress for a matter pertaining to their 2005 Single Farm Payment claims. There are others who still haven’t received so much as a date for an Independent Panel hearing, despite lodging a second stage appeal almost a year ago. This is totally unacceptable.”
In response to a letter sent by Jim Allister MEP, DARD has revealed that as of 5th November, 380 Stage 2 review requests had been received. 260 cases have been reviewed, and of these the Panels recommended that the Minister upholds 62 cases in full, upholds in part 12 cases, rejects 182 cases and in 4 cases did not agree a recommendation.
Mr Allister continued,
“I am particularly concerned at the handling of those appeals which have been recommended by Panel for approval, yet appellants are being forced to wait indefinitely for the Department to make a final decision. DARD’s dithering must stop.”
ENDS
