Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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174. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers who did not reach the entire stocking density in 2011 and thereafter increased their stocking density will receive payment for 2012, 2013 and 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20660/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The requirement that an applicant’s holding had to have achieved a minimum stocking density in 2011 of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare in order to be considered under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, also applied to the 2013 Scheme and again applies to the 2014 Scheme. This change to the Terms & Conditions was one of a number introduced in 2012, designed to make the Scheme more focused and, in doing so, contribute the necessary savings to the Scheme budget. This reduction in the overall Scheme budget was necessitated by the national budgetary position. However, rather than applying an across-the-board rate cut, a more targeted approach was adopted, designed to minimise the impact on those contributing most to achieving the aims of the Scheme. It will be recalled that a robust appeals mechanism was put in place to allow those who wished the opportunity to challenge their ineligibility, following the changes. Some 12,000 farmers availed of this process.