Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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525. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an inspection of commonage land took place at Derrygoolin, Woodford, County Galway by two officials from the Tipperary office (details supplied), that they granted an eligibility area in excess of 90% and that a separate inspection on the same lands by two officials from the Galway office applied an eligibility penalty and only allowed an eligible area of 50%; the reasons for the variation involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50221/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The commonage lands at Derrygoolin North and South were subject to an eligibility inspection in 2007. During the course of this inspection ineligible areas, comprising roads, scrub, rock and fenced-off forestry, was identified. This resulted in the eligible area of these commonage lands being reduced by some 20%. A further inspection of these commonage lands in 2010, some 3 years later, identified ineligible areas comprising scrub, strong heather, under-grazing, rock, roadways and an area permanently fenced-off. This resulted in the eligible forage area of these lands being reduced by some 50%.

Under the terms and conditions of both the Single Payment Scheme and Disadvantaged Areas’ Scheme, my Department is required to ensure that the land being claimed under these schemes is used for an agricultural activity and that ineligible areas such as roads, buildings, scrub, rock, and areas fenced-off from grazing use are excluded for the area deemed eligible for payment.