Written answers

Tuesday, 8 July 2014

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Agriculture Schemes Eligibility

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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587. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a farmer was milking cows in the past and then changed to suckling are they entitled to more entitlements due to changes in farming practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29141/14]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The number and value of entitlements established for every farmer under the Single Farm Payment Scheme in 2005 was based on the average number of animals or of Arable Aid, and the average number of hectares on which payment was made, under the Livestock Premia Schemes and/or Arable Aid Schemes during the reference years of 2000, 2001 and 2002. Any subsequent change in the farming enterprise such as a move from Dairy to Suckler did not lead to a recalculation of the value of entitlements held by a farmer under the Single Payment Scheme.

Under the new Basic Payment Scheme that will take effect from 2015, the number of entitlements to be allocated will be based on the number of hectares declared by a farmer in 2013 or 2015, whichever is less, while the value of the new entitlements will be based on a percentage of the value of entitlements owned by the farmer in 2014. The type of agricultural production engaged in by a farmer has no impact on either the number or value of entitlements that will be allocated.

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