Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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461. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will amend the current seven month retention of farm animals for disadvantaged area scheme purposes to at least the former retention timeframe of six months in view of the fodder crisis, caused by adverse elimatic conditions over the past few years which have led to severe hardship and financial losses to many farmers and badly affected the welfare of their animals; if he will urgently address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29338/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The aims of the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme are:

- Ensuring continued agricultural land use, thereby contributing to the maintenance of a viable rural society;

- Maintaining the countryside;

- Maintaining and promoting sustainable farming systems, which, in particular, take account of environmental protection requirements. Given the restrictions faced by those farming in recognised Disadvantaged Areas and mindful of the aims of the Scheme, as outlined, it will be readily appreciated that appropriate stocking levels are crucial. In this regard, balance must be struck between the need to ensure that at least the minimum is done to ensure the land is adequately utilised and grazed, while at the same time being sufficiently aware of the natural constraints. In this regard the minimum stocking levels currently set under the Scheme, which are not unduly onerous, achieve this twin objective.

Bearing in mind the efforts of my Department to help farmers maintain stocking levels in response to weather difficulties, I believe that the terms of the 2013 Scheme, as previously announced, remain appropriate. However, farmers with genuine fodder-related stocking difficulties may avail of the force majeure provisions of the Scheme.