Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine where horses are counted as part of the livestock for sticking density purposes under the 2012 disadvantaged area scheme, if it is a requirement that the equine premises is registered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46230/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm that, while, in general, horses are not eligible for the purposes of the stocking density calculation under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, those in equine breeding enterprises, which meet certain criteria, are eligible. These are:

- An applicant must, in the first instance, be an equine breeder and have bred a foal, in 2009, 2010 or 2011, from a mare registered as being on the applicant’s holding in 2011, which was registered in a Stud Book approved by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, with pedigree recorded (sire and dam):

- The premises must be registered with my Department, 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 are eligible:

- All equines aged one year to five years, (aged using 1 January), registered in the name of the applicant and maintained on his/her holding;

- Breeding mares, registered as having been on the applicant’s holding in 2011, which have bred an appropriately registered foal in 2009, 2010 or 2011.