Peter Burke
Question:939. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that raths, fairy forts or ringforts are not being included in CAP 2023. [18113/22]
View answerTuesday, 5 April 2022
Questions (939)
Written answers
National Monuments which include raths or ringforts are eligible under the current CAP and it is proposed that they will continue to remain eligible in the new CAP starting from 2023.
Within Cross Compliance, there are certain Landscape features which are designated under the current GAEC (Good Agricultural and Environment Condition) 7 – “Retention of Landscape Features & Designated Habitats and Controlling Invasive Species”. Since 2015, all archaeological sites and monuments have been included and therefore are protected and cannot be removed. These features are also eligible for payment under the various area based schemes operated by my Department.
There has been no change in this in the new CAP strategic plan.
Within Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) which was submitted to the European Commission on 31 December 2021, archaeological features, are included as eligible features for payment purposes and while the CSP is subject to European Commission approval, it is expected that these features will continue to be eligible.
Archaeological features are exceptionally important features in our landscape and I recognise their significance and hence they have been protected within the current CAP and will continue to be in the new CAP.