Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2015
254. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the maximum age of a horse so that it will be eligible to be counted as a livestock unit under the area-based compensatory allowances scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3429/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe detailed requirements for the 2015 Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme form part of the Rural Development Programme, which is currently under negotiation with the EU Commission. Under 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, there were two criteria to be satisfied in relation to those applicants availing of equines to meet the minimum stocking density requirement Firstly, the holding itself must have complied with the definition of an Equine Breeding Enterprise. Equine Breeding Enterprises are defined as follows: an applicant must, in the first instance, be an equine breeder and have bred a foal, from a mare registered as on the applicant’s holding in 2013, in either 2011, 2012 or 2013, which was registered in a Stud Book approved by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, with pedigree recorded (sire and dam).
Where these criteria are met, the following horses were then eligible for inclusion in the stocking density calculation for the 2014 Scheme, where adherence to S.I. 357 of 2011, European Communities (Equine) Regulations 2011, and S.I. 189 of 2014 Equidea (Transfer of Ownership) Regulations 2014 is met. All horses aged one year to five years, (aged using 1 January), registered in the name of the applicant in accordance with EU Regulation 504/2008 and maintained on his/her holding; breeding mares, registered as having been on the applicant’s holding in 2013, that have bred an appropriately registered foal in either 2011, 2012 or 2013.
Furthermore, the premises of all who meet this criteria must be registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, in accordance with S.I. No. 8 of 2013, Diseases of Animals Act 1966 (Registration of Horse Premises) Order 2013.
