Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 March 2019
233. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to change the regulations concerning the eligibility of donkeys as stock for minimum stocking densities under the ANC scheme 2013 to 2020 or 2021 to 2027; if so, the changes proposed; his further plans to have a public consultation on the proposed changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10965/19]
View answerUnder the Terms and Conditions of the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme applicants must fulfil stocking density requirements at a rate of 0.15 Livestock Units (LU) per eligible forage hectare. Applicants may use cattle, sheep, goats, horses, donkeys and deer to fulfil these requirements. Donkeys currently hold a value of 1.0 LU per hectare.
The 2019 Terms and Conditions for the ANC scheme signal to applicants that the stocking density value applied to the use of donkeys will be changed from 2020. This advance notice will give potentially impacted applicants time to adapt or changes practices. The terms and conditions are available online on the Department’s website and are also being posted to applicants. Specifically, the terms and conditions state:
“Please note that from 2020 only 50% of stocking density requirement can be fulfilled using donkeys. Applicants will be required to use other livestock to fulfil the other 50% requirement. “
This change to the 2020 ANC scheme has been introduced on the basis of stakeholder consultation and animal welfare considerations.
