Farmers can appeal department’s decisions on ‘clawback’ payments

Farmers are entitled to appeal decisions relating to their payments if they are dissatisfied with the outcome, the Department of Agriculture said yesterday.

In a recent exercise, the department examined the eligibility of land (some dating back to 2009) and issued letters to 4,800 farmers seeking €1.4m in reimbursements.

Sharply criticising the move, farm leaders described the “clawback” as grossly unfair and sought assurances that retrospective penalties would no longer be applied.