Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 December 2013
304. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to change or increase the retention period for the disadvantaged areas scheme 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55039/13]
View answerWhile the Terms and Conditions governing the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme have yet to be finalised, it is unlikely that there will be any change insofar as the minimum requirements concerning stocking density are concerned, which currently provide for (a) a seven consecutive month retention period, where the stocking density on a holding must be equal to or greater than 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare and (b) an annual average of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare calculated on the 12 months of the Scheme.
