Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The main component here is the disadvantaged areas scheme, DAS, but it is relatively straightforward. There will not be much change; it is moving from one CAP to another. However, the assessment of land under DAS will change in the coming years. Farmers who have genuinely disadvantaged land are the ones getting the payment. We will have some flexibility on that, as obviously there will be regional stresses, and it will not be easy because nobody likes losing and everybody wants to gain. We will manage it as best we can and we will work with farming organisations in a very open way on that. That does not take effect until the end of 2016, as far as I remember, in terms of the land-based assessment, which will be measuring moisture capacity, quality of soil, depth of soil, etc.