Disadvantaged Areas Scheme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 May 2012

Tuesday, 1 May 2012

Ceisteanna (484)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

560 Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in respect of each county, the number of participants in the disadvantaged area scheme in 2011 who had stocking levels of less than 0.3 livestock units per hectare; the average area farm of each of these participants; the average payment made to each of these farmers under the disadvantaged area scheme in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21576/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney)

The following Table shows the numbers of beneficiaries, by county, under the 2011 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, whose stocking density was less than 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare, the amount paid and the declared area, together with the average area and average payment, as requested.

County	Paid <0.3 lu	Amount Paid	Declared Area	Paid < 0.15	Average Area	Average Amount
Carlow	29	€64,081.56	976.08	0	33.66	€2,209.71
Cavan	279	€567,030.60	7,946.84	8	28.48	€2,032.37
Clare	435	€917,541.21	11,754.48	5	27.02	€2,109.29
Cork	586	€1,397,912.66	22,747.46	22	38.82	€2,385.52
Donegal	2,179	€5,725,692.30	92,542.57	398	42.47	€2,627.67
Dublin	27	€68,009.30	1,407.63	2	52.13	€2,518.86
Galway	1,556	€3,676,126.33	69,145.29	225	44.44	€2,362.55
Kerry	1,254	€3,345,709.94	70,269.92	67	56.04	€2,668.03
Kildare	19	€28,740.56	672.71	0	35.41	€1,512.66
Kilkenny	66	€124,370.99	1,771.97	0	26.85	€1,884.41
Laois	55	€92,540.58	1,309.49	2	23.81	€1,682.56
Leitrim	477	€1,087,388.68	15,211.41	12	31.89	€2,279.64
Limerick	171	€307,470.31	4,301.49	2	25.15	€1,798.07
Longford	111	€192,683.23	2,085.39	1	18.79	€1,735.88
Louth	36	€60,106.91	816.20	2	22.67	€1,669.64
Mayo	1,996	€5,083,181.24	95,232.55	394	47.71	€2,546.68
Meath	50	€81,982.68	1,643.58	0	32.87	€1,639.65
Monaghan	166	€267,367.05	3,036.72	2	18.29	€1,610.64
Offaly	101	€174,677.36	2,487.97	2	24.63	€1,729.48
Roscommon	357	€649,312.04	7,512.67	2	21.04	€1,818.80
Sligo	462	€998,778.74	18,000.10	19	38.96	€2,161.86
Tipperary	235	€447,100.10	7,743.87	5	32.95	€1,902.55
Waterford	84	€175,911.44	3,524.12	0	41.95	€2,094.18
Westmeath	112	€188,850.41	2,771.20	1	24.74	€1,686.16
Wexford	104	€180,437.26	2,741.21	1	26.36	€1,734.97
Wicklow	168	€403,839.57	10,811.11	13	64.35	€2,403.81
Overall	11,115	€26,306,843.05	458,464.03	1,185	41.25	€2,366.79

It will also be noted that the Table contains detail of the numbers who benefited under the 2011 Scheme who did not achieve the minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare. As the Deputy will be aware, there was provision under the 2011 Scheme and previous years, whereby compliance with the minimum stocking density requirement was waived where the holdings of given applicants where constrained in the level of stock which could be maintained, due to compliance with the requirements of recognised Agri-Environmental measures.

It is my intention that specific provision will be made under the 2012 Scheme for those farmers, who had a stocking density less than 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare in 2011, where that lower stocking density was as a result of adherence to lower stocking by agri-environmental measure. All applicants, whose stocking density was below 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare in 2011, will be written to formally and given the opportunity to apply for a derogation on the grounds that his or her participation in one of the above measures resulted in the lower stocking density.

In addition, the principles of force majeure/exceptional circumstances will also be provided for in the process and provision will also be made for new entrants to farming. A new entrant to farming is defined as someone who commenced farming in their own right and at their own risk at some point since 1 January 2010.