Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 March 2023
359. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the growing of trees and the managing of woodlands and forestry is a farming activity and whether any farmer engaged in it is an active farmer for CAP purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15989/23]
View answerFarmers are deemed active farmers, even if their entire holding is afforested under the National Forestry Programme, provided they continue to manage the forestry in compliance with the conditions of that scheme.
In terms of eligibility for direct payment schemes, land afforested since 2009, which was eligible for the Basic Payment Scheme, will continue to be eligible for payments under the new Basic Income Support Scheme (BISS). Land eligible for BISS prior to afforestation, which is afforested from 2023 onwards, will continue to be eligible for BISS. In both cases the afforested land must meet the requirements of the Afforestation grant and premium schemes. A claimant for BISS on afforested land must be the beneficiary of the forestry scheme payments.
