Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 February 2021
1085. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers who have burned land during January and February 2021 without the necessary controls and permissions in place will have their single farm payments reduced accordingly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10134/21]
View answerApplicants under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) are paid annually based on the number of entitlements held. Applicants are required to have an eligible hectare of agricultural land per entitlement held.
My Department investigates incidents of illegal burning using the most up to date technology and satellite imagery. Where such investigations identify land that has been illegally burned, such land is deemed to be ineligible for payment under the BPS.
