Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2015
415. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding changes to the single farm payment scheme which affect those farmers who had previously been denied a payment because the amount was less than €100, in line with the Scottish derogation; his plans to change this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29144/15]
View answerUnder the Single Payment Scheme direct payments of less than €100 did not issue to farmers. As a consequence such farmers cannot be considered as having received a direct payment in 2013 and do not hold an automatic right to participate in the Basic Payment Scheme. However up to now such farmers were considered as holding entitlements and consequently were also excluded from the scope of the Scottish Derogation. Further to discussions with the EU Commission, Ireland obtained agreement that persons who were entitled to receive a payment of less than €100 in 2013 may be considered as fulfilling the same conditions as farmers who fall within the scope of the Scottish Derogation.
To ensure compatibility with the Scottish Derogation, only persons who held entitlements with a value of less than €100 for every year of the Single Payment Scheme will be considered as eligible. Persons who transferred out entitlements of a value greater than €100 at any time during the Single Payment Scheme will not be included in this exemption.
All other terms and conditions of the standard Scottish Derogation apply including the requirement for applicants to produce verifiable evidence that in 2013 they 'produced, reared or grew agricultural products through harvesting, milking, breeding animals and keeping animals for farming purposes'. My Department will make contact with persons who may be eligible under this exemption and will invite such persons to submit an application under the Scottish Derogation.
