Seán Conlan (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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195. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) in County Louth is obliged to carry out certain works on lands which he or she is renting out. [12568/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In order to be eligible for payment under the Single Payment Scheme, and other area based schemes, an applicant must comply with the Cross Compliance requirements for all lands declared on their application, whether the lands are owned or rented. An applicant also accepts that they are responsible for any breach with these requirements for the full Scheme year. It is noted that the person named, the owner of lands, is not an applicant under the Single Payment Scheme.

The Cross Compliance regime consists of 18 Statutory Management Requirements and the requirement to maintain lands in Good Agricultural and Environmental. One of the requirements of Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition is that the applicant must take appropriate measures to prevent the encroachment of invasive species and to protect permanent pasture. Where it is identified that an applicant has failed to comply with any of the Cross Compliance requirements an appropriate penalty will be applied. My Department will investigate the issue raised further and will contact the person named directly.