Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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352. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare will not be eligible for a disadvantaged area scheme payment in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27849/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named is not eligible under the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme as his holding did not achieve the minimum stocking density in 2011 of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare, as required under the Terms and Conditions governing the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. Having unsuccessfully sought derogation from this requirement, the person named subsequently appealed unsuccessfully to the independently chaired DAS Appeals Committee. The person named was informed accordingly and advised of his right to pursue the matter with the Office of the Ombudsman. He has not availed of this option.

Following agreement on the Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme will be replaced by the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme (ANC) in 2015. If the person named applies for and meets the requirements of that Scheme, which will be similar to a great extent to the provisions of the current Scheme, he will be eligible to benefit from payment under the ANC Scheme from 2015 onwards.