Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 January 2013
876. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he intends to reduce the payment on the first 10 hectares of land under the disadvantaged areas scheme to farmers in areas classified as mountain that do not have sheep; the amount of any proposed reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1092/13]
View answerAs part of the changes made to some schemes implemented by my Department for 2013 under the Budget process, I allocated an additional €5 million for funding payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme in 2013. This brings the total funding for this Scheme to €195 million. However, in view of the level of expenditure under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, it was necessary to make some changes to the 2013 Scheme.
In that regard, I can confirm that there will be a reduction in the maximum payable area for More and Less Severely Disadvantaged lands from 34 to 30 hectares. This change will have no impact of farmers claiming Mountain Type Grazing or other applicants with 30 hectares or less of other categories of Disadvantaged land. The exact details and requirements of the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme are still under consideration. Details of the Scheme will be announced in the coming weeks.
