Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 September 2014
472. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers with commonage that is classified as marginal land will be required to prove that they keep stock on this commonage in order to receive payment under the areas of natural constraint, ANC, scheme in 2015 and subsequent years; the nature of the proof of stocking commonages that will be required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34476/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra483. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated number of farmers who have commonage land at present, which had commonage framework plans prepared on them, and are in receipt of the single farm payment and the disadvantaged payment and do not put stock on the commonage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34509/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra492. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers with commonage and marginal land will have to carry stock on this land; the period of the year that will be required to entitle them to the single farm payment and the disadvantaged area payment or areas of natural constraint, ANC, from next year on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34531/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 472, 483 and 492 together.
Commonage lands form an important part of the farming enterprises of many farmers, in addition to being crucial from the point of view of bio-diversity, wildlife, amenities and tourism. A total of some 14,936 farmers declare commonage land under the Single Payment Scheme and the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme.
They form a significant area of the lands declared annually by farmers in Ireland for the purposes of claiming the Single Farm Payment, the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and other Direct Payment Schemes, with approximately 7% of the lands declared are commonage lands. However, there is a growing risk of land abandonment on commonages as under-grazing becomes more of a problem. Farming of commonages is a complex matter, with issues about the legal right to claim, in addition to regular disputes about the grazing of the commonages.
In the case of the treatment of commonage lands under the 2014 Direct Payment Schemes, the situation remains unchanged. From 2015 onwards, a minimum grazing requirement, equivalent to at least one ewe per 1.5 hectares, will be required of all those applicants declaring marginal lands including commonage under the Basic Payment Scheme and the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme. A lower grazing level will be fixed for marginal lands where it is necessary on environmental grounds. These requirements will be expected to be met by all claimants by end December 2015. The extent of this task should not be underestimated and my stated intention is that this will be only achieved by working with the farmers concerned and all other stakeholders.
With a view to having a system to meet the requirements of the Basic Payment Scheme and Areas of Natural Constraint, which will be implemented in 2015, my Department will be writing to all commonage claimants in the coming weeks setting out their individual grazing requirements for marginal lands. The claimants will have the right, if they consider that the figures provided would not meet the requirements of their commonage, to submit an assessment by a professional planner providing alternative figures.
Above the minimum stocking level of one ewe per 1.5 hectares, the management of the grazing requirement is a matter for the individual claimants, provided that the commonage is kept in good agricultural and environmental condition and meets all the requirements for both the BPS and ANC schemes.
