Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers in mountain areas who applied for the disadvantaged area scheme in 2012; the number of these who have mountain holdings and own sheep; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6970/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, land is designated in three categories:

- Less Severely Handicapped Lowland and Coastal Areas with Specific Handicaps,

- Move Severely Handicapped Lowland and

- Mountain Type Grazing.

The rates of aid payable, which are designed to assist farmers to overcome the difficulties for farming in such disadvantaged areas, are graduated, in line with the level of disadvantage of the land designation. The rates payable under the 2012 Scheme are as follows:

Less Severely: €82.27 per forage hectare;

More Severely: €95.99 per forage hectare;

Mountain: €109.71 per forage hectare on the first ten hectares and €95.99 thereafter.

The detail sought by the Deputy is being extracted and collated at present and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy immediately it becomes available.