Pat Breen
Ceist:438. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2994/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 23 January 2018
Ceisteanna (438)
Freagraí scríofa
An application in respect of the 2017 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) was received from the person named on 18 April 2017. An advance payment in respect of the eligible land declared issued on 16 October with the balancing payment issuing on 1 December 2017.
In addition to the eligible land on which payment has been made, the application also includes a declaration of afforested land. Under EU Regulations, land which was afforested since 2009 will be eligible to draw down a BPS payment provided that certain requirements are met. In particular farmers who afforest part of their holding from 2009 onwards and wish to benefit under the BPS must retain at least 10% of the eligible hectares declared in 2008 (by the farmer or their predecessor) in an agricultural activity subject to a minimum of 3 hectares. This requirement has been outlined annually in the BPS Terms & Conditions booklet circulated to all farmers.
As the person named did not retain the required 10% of the hectares declared in an agricultural activity the recently afforested land is not eligible to draw down payment under the BPS.