Vol. 546 No. 3
140 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason considerable tracks of arable land have been designated mountain type; the long-term implications for stocking density on these lands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31705/01]
In 1997 a review of mountain type grazing lands for sheep headage purposes in the more severely handicapped areas and the less severely handicapped areas was carried out by my Department. All land classified as mountain type grazing was subsequently identified as such on the land parcel identification system. This designation as mountain type grazing suited most farmers, especially those engaged in sheep production, allowing them to be paid headage grants on mountain type ewes. In designating the areas concerned on the LPI system regard had to be given to certain natural boundaries, such as rivers and roads, and it was not possible to exclude certain farms where sheep production did not take place.
The new area based compensatory allowance scheme agreed in July 2000 and approved by the European Commission in the context of the CAP rural development plan provides for area related payments as follows: more severely handicapped (lowland) – £70 per hectare up to 45 hectares; less severely handicapped (lowland) – £60 per hectare up to 45 hectares; mountain type land – £45 per hectare up to 60 hectares.
Following a thorough review of the area based compensatory allowance scheme, proposals have been submitted to the European Commission for increased payment rates for farmers with mountain type land. The proposal involves making a payment of £80 per hectare on the first ten hectares of mountain type land with a payment of £70 per hectare on each remaining hectare, subject to an overall payment ceiling of 45 hectares. Subject to securing the necessary EU approval it is intended that the revised payment rates will take effect in the current year.
At present it is difficult to assess the long-term implications for stocking density on land designated as mountain type. The adoption of commonage framework plans in 2002 will have an impact on certain mountain type commonage land.
