Vol. 545 No. 3
84 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if there is a conflict between Dúchas and his Department regarding his Departments area-based payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30345/01]
The position is that the minimum stocking density requirement for the area-based compensatory allowance scheme was agreed as part of the scheme in July 2000 and approved by the European Commission in the context of Ireland's CAP rural development plan. Under the terms and conditions of the 2001 disadvantaged areas compensatory allowance scheme an applicant, to be eligible for payment must: be a person aged 18 years or over and hold a herd number issued by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development; occupy and farm a minimum of three hectares of forage land in a disadvantaged area; reside within daily commuting distance, 70 miles, of the holding on which compensatory allowance is being claimed; undertake to remain in farming for five years from the first payment of compensatory allowance; comply with good farming practice as published by the Department in the CAP Rural Development Plan 2000-2006; comply with the EU Hormones Directives 96/22/EC and 96/23/EC; meet a minimum stocking level of 0.15 livestock units equivalent-forage hectare of the entire holding in 2000.
This minimum stocking level will not apply where the rural environment protection scheme or other recognised environmental measures require a lower stocking density. However, farmers who are unable to meet the minimum stocking density but who qualified for headage grants in 2000 in respect of cattle and/or sheep may qualify for payment under the new scheme, provided their land is being utilised and is not in danger of undergrazing. Livestock units – LUs – are calculated as follows: bovines over two years of age – one LU; Bovines two years old and under – 0.6 LU; Registered Breeding Mares registered in the Irish Horse Register or with the Connemara Pony Breeders' Society – one LU; Female Breeding Deer = 0.3 LU; Sheep and Goats = 0.15 LU. I am satisfied that there is no conflict between Duchas and my Department regarding this scheme. One hectare = 2.471 acres, for example, 0.15 LU-hectare is equal to 1 ewe-hectare or 2.471 acres.
