Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 6 September 2019
1377. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if boglands that show evidence of grazing are eligible under the basic payment and areas of natural constraints schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34884/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to be eligible land under the Basic Payment Scheme and the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme, the land must be agricultural area. Blanket bog can be considered as agricultural area and, where the land is in a state suitable for grazing and there is evidence of grazing in the year of the claim, the area can be considered as eligible.
Raised bog, however, is considered as non-agricultural area and therefore is never considered as eligible, whether used for turf production or not, under the Basic Payment Scheme and the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme.
