Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 May 2013
580. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the dates of the scheme year that apply to the disadvantaged areas scheme for stocking density purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25754/13]
View answer581. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a farmer who only acquired land legally in March 2013 will have to comply with the stocking density rules for the disadvantaged areas scheme 2013 for the whole calendar year of 2013 and to achieve the stocking densities from the date of acquisition to the 31 December 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25755/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 580 and 581 together.
In order to be considered eligible under the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, applicants must, in the first instance, have achieved a minimum stocking density on their holdings in 2011 of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare, or, alternatively, have been formally granted derogation from this requirement or qualified as a New Entrant. Thereafter, applicants must also ensure that their holdings meet a minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare for a minimum retention period of seven consecutive months, in addition to maintaining an annual average of 0.15 livestock units calculated over entire twelve months of the calendar year.
As provided in the Terms and Conditions governing the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, land declared by an applicant must be used and managed by the applicant. In order to be eligible for payment, the land in question must be available to the applicant for the entire calendar year. However, as in previous years, there is continued recognition of farmers, who do not meet the minimum stocking density due to the impact of Agri-Environment measures; provision is also been made for new entrants to farming, with each case being examined in light of the circumstances particular to the case.
