Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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205. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a farmer who was renting land in 2006 and was not aware that they could have consolidated their entitlements, that is, never stacked entitlements on their own land, if there is a maximum number of years for stacking and if there a minimum time before which it has to claimed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54711/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Consolidation of entitlements was available to farmers each year from 2005 where the number of hectares of eligible land declared by the farmer was less than the average number of hectares declared in the reference years 2000 – 2002. Applications for consolidation were available each year. The reduction in the number of hectares must have arisen because of one or more of the following circumstances:

- The acquisition of land by a public authority under a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for non-agriculture.

- Lands leased in/ rented in during all or part of the reference period (2000-2002) where the lease /rental agreement has expired or will expire and the land parcels in question are no longer available.

The farmer must however retain a number of hectares equally to at least 50% of the average area declared during the reference period.

If the Deputy has a particular case in mind he should provide details of the case to my Department so that the case can be examined in detail.