Dáil debates

Thursday, 10 May 2012

Other Questions

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme

4:00 pm

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 9: To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he will clarify the final changes to the disadvantaged areas scheme; the number affected; the amount that will be saved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23263/12]

Photo of Shane McEnteeShane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It will be recalled that on foot of commitments given in the 2012 budget significant savings needed to be found in my Department's expenditure for 2012, part of which it was decided should come from the funding assigned to the disadvantaged areas scheme, with the budgeted expenditure under the 2012 scheme being reduced from €220 million to €190 million.

Rather than simply apply an across the board cut to the rates payable or reduce the maximum payable area as a means of achieving these savings, the Minister decided that real efforts should be made to focus the scheme on those farmers who are most actively contributing to achieving its aims, namely, ensuring continued agricultural land use, thereby contributing to the maintenance of viable rural communities, maintaining the countryside and promoting sustainable farming systems which take account of environmental enhancement measures.

The changes to the 2012 scheme, which are subject to the approval of the European Commission as part of the amendments submitted by my Department to the 2007–2013 Rural Development Programme, are as follows. In the first instance, an applicant is required to have met in 2011 a stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare for three consecutive months. However, specific provision is being made for those farmers who had a stocking density of less than 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare in 2011 where that lower stocking density was as a result of adherence to lower stocking by agri-environmental measure such as a commonage framework destocking plans, rural environmental protection schemes, REPS, or agri-environment options scheme, AEOS.

All applicants, whose stocking density was below 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare in 2011 will be formally written to and given the opportunity to apply for a derogation on the grounds that his or her participation in one of the above measures resulted in the lower stocking density. The principles of force majeure , exceptional circumstances will also be provided for in the process and provision will also be made for new entrants to farming. While the minimum stocking density remains at 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare, the retention period is increased to six months. In addition, the stocking density is calculated over the 12 months of the scheme year. Again, there will be a continued recognition of farmers who will not meet the minimum stocking requirement due to the impact of agri-environment measures, including the NPWS review, which has established stocking densities for all commonages, rural environmental protection schemes, REPS and agri-environment options scheme, AEOS.

Additional Information not given on the floor of the House.

With the intention of favourably targeting those farmers who are farming exclusively in disadvantaged areas, it is proposed that farmers, whose holdings consist of land situated in disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged areas will be considered to be in a better position from a farming viewpoint than those farming exclusively in disadvantaged areas. Therefore, it is proposed that where part of an applicant's land is declared disadvantaged and his or her main holding is in a non-disadvantaged area, a digressive rate of aid under the scheme will be payable. This digressive payment does not affect applicants whose main holding is in a disadvantaged area. This proposal is regarded as fair in that the greater proportion of less favoured areas land in the holding, the greater the level of payment.

While horses will no longer be eligible for the stocking density calculation, equine breeding enterprises will continue to be eligible on the basis of the contribution they make to the local economy. Equine breeding enterprises are defined as follows: an applicant must, in the first instance, be an equine - horse-donkey - breeder and have bred a foal from a mare registered as on the applicant's holding in 2011, in either 2009, 2010 or 2011, which was registered in a Stud Book approved by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, with pedigree recorded - sire and dam.

Furthermore, the premises of all who meet this criteria must be registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, in accordance with S.I. No. 8 of 2012, Diseases of Animals Act 1966 (Registration of Horse Premises) Order 2012.

Where these criteria are met, the following equines will then be eligible for inclusion in the stocking density calculation for the 2012 scheme - all equines aged one year to five years - aged using 1 January - registered in the name of the applicant and maintained on his or her holding; breeding mares registered as having been on the applicant's holding in 2011, that have bred an appropriately registered foal in 2009, 2010 or 2011. Where the applicant's main holding-residence is situated in a non-DAS area, land situated more than 80 km from an applicant's main holding is not eligible under the 2012 scheme.

As many applicants will increase their farming activity during 2012 to ensure adherence to the new requirements and others will apply for and be eligible for a derogation on the grounds I outlined earlier, it is not possible to indicate the number of applicants that will be affected by the changes.

Photo of Michael MoynihanMichael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. When was the submission sent to the European Commission for approval? Will the Minister of State accept that in many cases which no doubt he, like me, is hearing about, people are being unfairly punished because for a number of reasons they were unable to meet the stocking density in 2011? Is it possible to apply the rule in respect of stocking density in 2011 retrospectively? My questions are, when was the submission made to the Commission; is it possible, legally, to apply the rule retrospectively and will the Minister of State accept that many genuine people, on the peripheral and marginal end, have been affected by this and that they more than other people need the support of the State schemes?

Photo of Shane McEnteeShane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I will communicate with the Deputy on the dates relating to his first two questions. All of us involved in agriculture want to encourage farmers to increase production. The Minister and I are on the same wavelength on this in that we do not want to be paying people to do nothing. The increase in the live stock units will be of great assistance to people in forestry, in particular gorse areas for which the decreasing of the stocking rate has caused a further problem. The Deputy has raised questions that are being asked of all Members. A farmer who is not happy can request a review of his or her case. We can no longer allow the situation whereby farmers are purchasing a few animals or horses to put on land to stock and obtain premiums. That day is gone. The Minister and I will only pay farmers to work the land. We will do all we can to ensure that disadvantaged areas get the maximum support. Following conclusion of the negotiations, we hope to continue with a proper AEOS scheme.

Photo of Michael MoynihanMichael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Many farmers who, through no fault of their own but owing to family or financial circumstances and so on, came within the remit of the scheme in 2011 are now being penalised in 2012. Is it possible to apply this rule retrospectively? The advice we have received is that it is not. What advice has the Department received in this regard?

Photo of Shane McEnteeShane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I cannot inform the Deputy of what advice the Department has been given. I can, however, tell him that it is our intention to push ahead with the decisions we have made. People who are not happy can apply to have their case reviewed. I have no doubt that people who through no fault of their own are in difficult circumstances will not be left out in the cold.