Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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107. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a derogation from the stocking density rule will be provided for new farmers who are waiting for herd numbers under the areas of natural constraint scheme for 2015; particularly the rule that a farmer must have a 0.15 livestock unit per hectare for seven months, given that farmers cannot purchase stock without a herd-flock number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22844/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under the new Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme introduced under the provisions of Rural Development Regulation (EU 1305/2013), which replaces the previous Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, applicants are required to adhere to certain eligibility conditions.

The new Scheme requires in the first instance that applicants must hold a valid herd number issued by my Department or have applied for a herd number on or before the closing date of the Scheme of 29 May 2015. Furthermore, applicants are required to maintain 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare for 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 scheme year.

Where it has been identified that the holding of an applicant is unable to meet the stocking density requirements due to the date of issue of their herd-number, my Department will review each case individually with a view to confirming the date of application of a herd number and thereafter establishing the earliest possible instance in which a holding would have been able to meet the stocking density requirements. Applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of the review and in the event that an applicant is dissatisfied with the outcome of that review, they will be afforded the option to pursue the matter to the independent Agricultural Appeals Office.