Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 October 2019
471. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter in the case of a person (details supplied) regarding a scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41721/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe named individual applied for the 2019 Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme on 1 April 2019.
I am pleased to confirm that payment for the 2019 ANC Scheme has issued to the named individual.
As regards the position of donkeys and the eligibility criteria of the ANC scheme, applicants must maintain 0.15 Livestock Units (LU) per eligible forage hectare for 7 consecutive months and maintain an average of 0.15 LU over the 12 months of the scheme. Donkeys have traditionally been accepted as eligible animals under the scheme along with cattle, sheep, goats and deer. Horses are also accepted but are subject to additional criteria and must be held on a premises registered as an Equine Breeding Enterprise.
Following consultation with relevant stakeholders, it has been decided to introduce changes in the scheme stocking requirement in relation to donkeys. From the 2020 scheme year, only 50% of an applicant’s stocking density can be fulfilled using donkeys and the balance must be fulfilled using other eligible animals.
This change was highlighted in the Terms and Conditions document of the 2019 ANC scheme, which issued in March 2019, in order to give sufficient lead in time to applicants who may need to amend their stocking patterns.
