Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 April 2015
77. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding entitlements in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15944/15]
View answerThe number of entitlements to be allocated to a farmer in 2015 under the Basic Payment Scheme is based on the number of hectares the farmer declares in 2013 and 2015, whichever is lesser. When producing the Guide to Basic Payment entitlements which issued to all farmers in February 2015, only data relating to the number of hectares declared by farmers in 2013 was available to the Department. The final calculation of the number of entitlements to be allocated will take place when farmers declare their eligible land in 2015 and will take account of any loss of land through transfer. The person named declared 37.04 hectares of eligible land in 2013 and his Guide to Basic Payment Entitlements reflects this position. Any transfer of land to his son will reduce the number of hectares he declares in 2015 and the number of entitlements allocated with be reduced accordingly. The person named also has the option of entering into a Private Contract Clause whereby entitlements would be transferred with the land.
My Department will make direct contact with the person named to fully explain the options available to him and to assist him through the process.
