Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 May 2023
605. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who received payments under the areas of natural constraint scheme in 2022 under each category and payment rate; the average number of hectares on which land was claimed in each, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24448/23]
View answer614. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who received payments under the areas of specific constraint islands scheme in 2022, under each category and payment rate; the average number of hectares on which land was claimed in each, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24458/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 605 and 614 together.
The Areas of Natural and other Specific Constraints scheme provides payments to people farming land in designated areas face significant hardships from factors such as remoteness, difficult topography, climatic problems, and poor soil conditions.
Support is provided based on the following categories of land::
Category 1 land: The system of farming prevalent in Category 1 is characterised by extensive farming practices focused on livestock management on higher ground (€148 up to 12 ha and €112 on 12-34 ha);
Category 2 land: The system of farming prevalent in Category 2 is characterised by extensive livestock grazing practices on lower ground (€111 up to 10 ha and €104 on 10-30 ha); and
Category 3 land: The system of farming prevalent in Category 3 is less extensive in nature and characterised by grazing livestock enterprises (€93 up to 8 ha and €88.25 on 8-30 ha).
Offshore island land: Island holdings are generally small and fragmented where the potential for intensification is limited and farming is economically marginal, at best. Farming on the off-shore islands off Ireland is in continuous decline (€250 up to 20 ha, €170 on 20-34 ha and €70 on 34-40 ha).
Please see information requested by the Deputy in the table below for the ANC scheme year 2022.
|
Category/Payment Rate |
Number of Farmers Paid |
Average Claimed Area |
|
Category 1 (€148) |
30,303 |
10.73 |
|
Category 1 (€112) |
22,783 |
15.60 |
|
Category 2 (€111) |
53,039 |
9.25 |
|
Category 2 (€104) |
42,001 |
13.24 |
|
Category 3 (€93) |
24,013 |
7.56 |
|
Category 3 (€88.25) |
20,151 |
16.01 |
|
Island High(€250) |
824 |
10.19 |
|
Island Medium (€170) |
184 |
10.27 |
|
Island Low (€70) |
83 |
5.16 |
