Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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105. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his Department's official definition of agricultural activity under the 2015 area aid schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15064/15]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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106. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his Department's official definition of usable agricultural area under the 2015 area aid schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15065/15]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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107. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his Department's official definition of under-utilisation under the 2015 area aid schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15066/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 to 107, inclusive, together.

Under the provisions of the Basic Payment Scheme, farmers need to declare an eligible hectare for each payment entitlement held in order to benefit from payment. The hectares declared must be eligible and must have an agricultural activity carried out on them. The situation in Ireland has not changed since the Single Payment Scheme was replaced by the Basic Payment Scheme at the beginning of 2015. Eligible lands include those lands with herbaceous grasses and other grazable vegetation. I am, however, pursuing options that may assist farmers, who have marginal lands, in particular those that have designated land, in meeting the requirements of the Direct Payment regulations. My Department officials are in direct contact with the EU Commission with the intention of pursuing all possible options and bringing the matter to an early conclusion, which, including other matters will cover the three issues raised.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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108. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his Department's definition of minimum activity on marginal land under the Common Agricultural Policy 2014-2020 and the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020; if the European Union Commission has approved this definition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15099/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under the provisions of the Basic Payment Scheme, farmers need to declare an eligible hectare for each payment entitlement held in order to benefit from payment. The hectares declared must be eligible and must have an agricultural activity carried out on them. The situation in Ireland has not changed since the Single Payment Scheme was replaced by the Basic Payment Scheme at the beginning of 2015. Eligible lands include those lands with herbaceous grasses and other grazable vegetation. I am, however, pursuing options that may assist farmers, who have marginal lands, in particular those that have designated land, in meeting the requirements of the Direct Payment regulations. My Department officials are in direct contact with the EU Commission with the intention of pursuing all possible options and bringing the matter to an early conclusion, which, including other matters will cover the three issues raised.