Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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411. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason farmers with horse breeding enterprises, including those with Connemara ponies, were excluded under the new arrangements announced under the Scottish derogation with regard to the basic payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20377/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The provision known as the Scottish Derogation allows for the allocation of entitlements to persons who never held entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme but who were actively farming on 15 May 2013. Such allocation is restricted to those who ‘produced, reared or grew agricultural products’ in 2013 in those sectors traditionally supported under Pillar I in Ireland, i.e. the beef, dairy, sheep and arable sectors.

The original allocation of entitlements in Ireland under the Single Payment Scheme was based on the receipt of a direct payment in the period 2000-2002. In Ireland’s case this resulted in entitlements being allocated to farmers who were paid coupled support under the Suckler Cow Scheme, and/or the Special Beef Premium Scheme, and/or the Slaughter Premium Scheme, and/or the Ewe Premium Scheme and/or the Arable aid scheme. The farming of equines, pigs, poultry, horses etc during this original reference period did not attract the allocation of entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme and consequently they are not included in the Basic Payment Scheme.

The application of the Scottish Derogation to the traditional sectors supported by direct payments is consistent with the overall implementation of the Single Payment Scheme and the Basic Payment Scheme.

Connemara ponies are eligible for payment under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme (formerly the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme) providing they meet the breeding enterprise criteria as laid down in the terms and conditions of that scheme.