Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 July 2021
24. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if mountain land, hill land particularly commonage will be treated the same in the next CAP for those farmers who farm this land and claim BPS, ANC and GLAS on this type of land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38165/21]
View answerPayments under the current CAP are based on the principle of the eligible hectare. An eligible hectare is required to draw down a BPS entitlement or an area based payment under the other schemes managed by the Department, such as GLAS and ANC.
An eligible hectare is an "agricultural area" with an "agricultural activity" being carried out on that area. In broad terms, this means that, for permanent grassland, it must be capable of supporting an agricultural activity such as grazing livestock and this activity must be carried out on an annual basis. Currently, no distinction is drawn between hill land and low land with regard to eligibility for payment.
Under the new CAP, the Department will, through the CAP Strategic Plan, be submitting to DG AGRI the new definitions for the eligible hectare that would apply from 2023 on. The definitions will build on the "eligible hectare" definition with a proposal from the Department to also allow up to 30% of the land parcel consist of features beneficial to the climate and environment such as scrub and habitat areas. Another element of the CAP agreement at the June Council includes a provision that it may be a requirement for an agricultural activity only every second year. The "eligible hectare" definition applies to all land with no distinction between hill land or low land.
