Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1155. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will discuss the changes to the eligible area regarding the single farm payment and disadvantaged area scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36881/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The CAP agreement reached on 26 June provides a number of options for Member States in terms of how they can tailor the new measures to suit their specific needs. In this context my Department issued a consultative paper towards the end of July and a process of consultation is currently underway with stakeholders following which I will take decisions that will determine how the measures are to be applied in Ireland.

One of the issues to be determined is a provision in the draft Regulation relating to the definition of permanent grassland and pasture. Permanent grassland and permanent pasture (referred to as ‘permanent grassland’) is defined as land used to grow grasses or other herbaceous forage naturally (self-seeded) or through cultivation (sown) and that has not been included in the crop rotation of the holding for five years or longer. There is an option for Member States to include land where ‘grasses and other herbaceous forage’ are not predominant but which is grazed as part of established local practice. Where Member States decide to include such land as permanent grassland, they may apply a reduction coefficient to such land whereby the number of hectares declared converts into a reduced number of ‘eligible hectares’.

A further derogation allows for the application of a reduction coefficient to be applied to permanent grassland which is located in areas of natural constraints due to climatic conditions, poor soil quality, steepness and water supply. If such a reduction coefficient is applied under either derogation, greening requirements must be respected on all declared hectares not just on the reduced number of eligible hectares.

The question of whether Ireland should avail of a co-efficient on such land has been included in the consultative paper.