Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
1165. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider introducing a specific scheme (details supplied) in view of the benefits for climate and biodiversity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16571/23]
View answerThe CAP Strategic Plan for the period 2023-2027, sets out a wide range of schemes to support Irish farming. These schemes have a very strong focus on supporting incomes and on protecting biodiversity as well as supporting climate objectives at national and EU level.
Area-based payment schemes within the CAP are predominately paid on what is known as the eligible hectare. For the purposes of the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and other area-based schemes, an eligible hectare is an agricultural area that is used for an agricultural activity.
An agricultural area is comprised of arable land, permanent crops and permanent grassland, along with agroforestry systems. Permanent grassland is land used to grow grasses or herbaceous forage including heather and rushes.
Therefore, within permanent grassland parcels containing heather, once an agricultural activity is present, the parcel is deemed eligible. An agricultural activity can be traditional practices such as grazing livestock, but it can also involve maintenance activities.
Furthermore, where lands with heather are part of an agri-environmental scheme, eligibility will not be impacted even if traditional agricultural activities are not present as long as the land is being maintained as directed under the scheme conditions.
Given that the presence of heather is allowed as permanent grassland and permanent grassland is already supported under Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan, it is not necessary to introduce any further specific schemes for heather.
