Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Question 277: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to stock and density charges for the disadvantaged areas if he will advise the following, for the purpose of the scheme the age at which a lamb become a sheep; the period the animal must be retained on the claim area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40627/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Disadvantaged Areas Schemes seeks to compensate over 100,000 Irish farm families, whose ability to farm is restricted due to the poor quality of their land. Over seventy five percent of Ireland's total agricultural area is designated as disadvantaged and in order to encourage sustainable use of this land, and protect against land abandonment, thereby maintaining the countryside, the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was introduced. As part of the recent budgetary process, I decided that there while there will be no changes in either the rates or the eligible areas qualifying for a disadvantaged area payment, that expenditure would be reduced by some €30 million in 2012.

This lower financial limit will be achieved by the introduction of targeted reform in the Disadvantaged Areas Payments, which will be achieved through reform of the stocking density, retentions period and other elements of the scheme. The changes being introduced will favour active farmers, whose holdings are exclusively in Disadvantaged Areas and are subject to clearance by the European Commission.

The main changes to the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme are:

· The minimum stocking density for 2011 must be 0.30 livestock units per hectare or greater and for 2012 must be 0.15 livestock units per hectare or greater. For official purposes a lamb becomes a sheep at 12 months.

· The minimum retention period has been increased from 3 months to 6 months and will be calculated over 12 months.

· There will be a reduced rate of aid where applicants hold both Disadvantage and non-Disadvantaged Lands.

· Exclusion of horses from the stocking density calculation. Remaining qualifying animals include cattle, sheep, deer and goats

· An exclusion of land more that 80 kilometres from a farmer's main holding where that is situated in a non-Disadvantaged Area.