Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 March 2023
37. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if land used for solar farms can also be used for single-farm payment drawdown or forestry payment drawdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11723/23]
View answerUnder the EU CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), the Eligible Hectare is the basis of payment for area-based schemes such as the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS).
Within the CSP an eligible hectare is an agricultural area that is used for an agricultural activity or, where the area is also used for a non-agricultural activity, is predominantly used for such activities.
An area is predominantly used for agricultural activity if that activity can be exercised without being significantly hampered by the intensity, nature, duration and timing of the non-agricultural activity. On this basis it is the view of my Department that the areas beneath the solar panels would normally be considered ineligible and therefore deductions must be made for these areas, along with any infrastructure constructed to support the solar farm, such as access roads.
However, where a farmer is considering the installation of solar panels they should contact either their FAS approved agricultural advisor, or my Department to discuss the specifics of their situation, with details of the lands in question because the particular construction and operation of the solar farm may have an impact on the eligibility status of the lands.
In all cases, land parcels containing solar panels will only be considered eligible where an agricultural activity takes place (e.g. topping of grass) and the solar panels must not hamper the undertaking of that agricultural activity.
It is also worth noting that all the agricultural land used to claim BISS must be either owned, leased or rented by the applicant and must be used and managed by the applicant.
In terms of forestry, there may be some parts of the wider area around a solar farm that could be deemed eligible for support under the afforestation scheme. However, the integration of forestry with solar farms is highly unlikely due to growing trees blocking out the light. The trees would also pose a risk to the solar farm infrastructure as the trees get taller due to leaf fall, falling branches and the risk of trees themselves blowing over.
