Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour)
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85. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way boglands unfit for grazing are defined for the purposes of the EU single payment scheme; and the way boglands unfit for grazing are differentiated from boglands fit for grazing for the purposes of eligibility for the single payment scheme. [47488/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Payments under the Single Payment Scheme may only be made in respect of eligible land. Eligible land is defined as land that is used for an agricultural activity. An agricultural activity is defined as the production, rearing or growing of agricultural products including harvesting, milking, breeding of animals and keeping animals for farming purposes. In addition, land must be maintained in good agricultural and environmental condition, which can be achieved by carrying out farming practices such as grazing or by topping the land.

Bogland in Ireland ranges from raised bog in lower elevations to blanket peat at higher elevations. In the main raised bog is not eligible land as it is traditionally not used or suitable to carry out a traditional farming activity such as the rearing of animals. On the other hand blanket peat can be eligible where it continues to be used to carry out an agricultural activity such as sheep farming.

When carrying out eligibility inspections to ensure compliance with the regulatory requirements governing the Single Payment Scheme all areas submitted for payment are inspected on their own merit and where my Department is satisfied that an acceptable agricultural activity is being conducted the land will be considered eligible.