Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 October 2021
922. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers on natura designated land, SACs and SPAs; the total hectarage of such land on which basic payments were paid in 2020 by county; the average holding size by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50412/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraNatura is made up of Special Protection Areas (SPAs), established under the EU Birds Directive (79/409/EEC), and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), established under the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). Responsibility for Natura lies with the National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) in Ireland.
Natura agricultural lands form a significant part of the overall eligible agricultural area within Ireland's Land Parcel Identification System and are an important resource, not only in terms of agricultural production but also in terms of biodiversity.
While much of the Natura area is agricultural lands, a significant proportion is made up of non-agricultural areas such as marine habitats, foreshore etc.
Each year, the Department, accepts online applications from farmers for payments under a wide range of area-based schemes, for example Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), Greening, Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) etc. These claims are recorded within the Land Parcel Identification System. It is from these agricultural areas declared by farmers that the Department has drawn the information on with regard to Natura status.
The attached table gives details on the number of farmers claiming on an eligible agricultural parcel that is also Natura, along with the eligible Natura area per county. It also shows the average claim per county.
|
County |
Number of Farmers (Natura)1 |
Natura Area2 |
Average Claimed Area3 |
|
CARLOW |
366 |
3,584.26 |
9.79 |
|
CAVAN |
519 |
8,272.96 |
15.94 |
|
CLARE |
1582 |
34,506.93 |
21.81 |
|
CORK |
1961 |
32,969.99 |
16.81 |
|
DONEGAL |
2773 |
57,540.67 |
20.75 |
|
DUBLIN |
48 |
1,929.31 |
40.19 |
|
GALWAY |
3923 |
79,749.33 |
20.33 |
|
KERRY |
3174 |
103,884.99 |
32.73 |
|
KILDARE |
83 |
624.54 |
7.52 |
|
KILKENNY |
519 |
4,473.70 |
8.62 |
|
LAOIS |
506 |
5,666.99 |
11.20 |
|
LEITRIM |
646 |
14,547.32 |
22.52 |
|
LIMERICK |
1049 |
15,190.04 |
14.48 |
|
LONGFORD |
140 |
1,348.59 |
9.63 |
|
LOUTH |
190 |
2,934.65 |
15.45 |
|
MAYO |
3972 |
88,287.20 |
22.23 |
|
MEATH |
178 |
1,411.03 |
7.93 |
|
MONAGHAN |
73 |
878.90 |
12.04 |
|
OFFALY |
326 |
4,426.85 |
13.58 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
763 |
6,132.89 |
8.04 |
|
SLIGO |
932 |
19,922.95 |
21.38 |
|
TIPPERARY |
1136 |
19,773.76 |
17.41 |
|
WATERFORD |
439 |
10,184.26 |
23.20 |
|
WESTMEATH |
265 |
2,934.03 |
11.07 |
|
WEXFORD |
367 |
5,269.14 |
14.36 |
|
WICKLOW |
350 |
21,133.65 |
60.38 |
1. Number of farmers claiming on a parcel with an eligible area for payment purposes that is also Natura
2. Total Natura area that is also eligible for payment purposes.
3. Average claimed area of the farms by county
