12,000 pay to prove postage
With large sums at stake in farming schemes, it is recommended that applications be sent by Swiftpost or registered post.
The receipt is required by the Department of Agriculture as proof of postage, in the event of a dispute over whether an application had been submitted.
This has been the only acceptable evidence of postage for the Single Payment Scheme since 2011, and since the Beef Data Programme began in 2013.
These postal services cost between €5 and €6 for a large envelope. However, despite the cost, 12,000 of the 37,000 recent applications to join the beef genomics scheme were received by swiftpost or registered post, according to the department.
The closing date for receipt of applications to join this scheme was extended from April 4 to April 17.
However, Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney says his department has already received about 40 appeals relating to applications with no proof of postage.
“No appeals have been received where the applicant had a swiftpost or registered post receipt,” he said.
He was responding in the Dáil to Roscommon-South Leitrim Independent TD Denis Naughten, who asked how many people had contacted the department who have proof of postage of beef genomics scheme applications, but were rejected on the basis that they have no proof of delivery.
Another proof of postage dispute has arisen over a Co Clare farmer’s 2013 single farm payment application,.
This was brought up in a Dáil question by Galway East Fine Gael TD Paul Connaughton, and Mr Coveney said the farmer contends that he submitted his 2013 application form to his department by express post on May 15, 2013.
In November 2013, the person named submitted a completed SFP application form together with proof of postage from May 15.
“However, the envelope when traced, using the express post receipt submitted, had been recorded by my department as having contained a completely blank form and as such could not have been ascribed to any known applicant.
“The case is currently being examined further.
“The person named will be notified of the outcome once this review is finalised,” said Mr Coveney .
