Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2016

Tuesday, 22 March 2016

Questions (161)

Seán Kyne

Question:

161. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason payment has not issued to a person (details supplied) under the areas of natural constraint scheme 2015; if a copy of the flock register has been sought to account for lambs born during the year; if stocking restrictions due to farm location within the Twelve Bens mountain range has been taken into account on judging eligibility for this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4838/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

An application under the 2015 Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) Scheme was received in my Department from the person named on 21 May 2015.

Under the 2015 ANC Scheme, eligible applicants are required to have met a minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock units for a retention period of seven consecutive months and to maintain an annual average of 0.15 livestock units calculated over the twelve months of the scheme year. Payment under the ANC scheme has not issued in this case as, at this stage, the holding concerned has not satisfied the scheme’s minimum stocking density requirements. An official from my Department has been in direct contact with the person named to advise him of the outstanding issues. I understand that further documentation in relation to this issue is now to be forwarded to the Department. On receipt of this documentation, the application will be further reviewed.