Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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285. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will permit the registered owners of donkeys to continue to use them in calculations of the stocking density for the disadvantaged area scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49462/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under the new Rural Development Plan 2015-2020, it is proposed that under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme 2015, holdings of eligible applicants will be required to maintain a minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock unitsfor a minimum retention period of seven consecutive months, in addition to maintaining an annual average of 0.15 livestock units calculated over the twelve months of the 2015 scheme year. The Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme replaces the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme in 2015. Up until the end of 2014, donkeys were eligible for inclusion in the stocking density calculation where the animals in question are appropriately registered in the name of the applicant and maintained on his/her holding in accordance with European Communities (Equine) Regulations 2011(S.I. 357 of 2011) and Equidae (Transfer of Ownership) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 189 of 2014). Discussions are ongoing with the EU Commission on the Draft Rural Development Programme including the proposals on the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme. Therefore, it is not possible at this stage to confirm whether donkeys will be eligible for inclusion in the stocking density calculation in the scheme approved by the Commission.