Written answers

Thursday, 8 October 2015

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Agriculture Schemes

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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83. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce measures to address the income difficulties in the sheep sector, including a new direct payment scheme to replace the sheep grassland scheme; if sheep farmers will receive priority access to the green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme to replace income lost due to the ending of the rural environment protection scheme in 2015; his plans to reinstate the sheep handling and fencing grant under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme II; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35064/15]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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When determining the Initial Unit Value of a farmer’s entitlements under the Basic Payment Scheme in 2015, Regulation 1307/2013 gives Member States the option to take into account any payment the farmer received in 2014 under schemes such as the Grassland Sheep Scheme. This option is only available where the Member State is not applying voluntary coupled support to the sector concerned under the new CAP.  Accordingly, while the legal basis for the former Grassland Sheep Scheme is no longer in place under the new regulations, these payments have been taken into account under the new Basic Payments Scheme. Many sheep farmers will also benefit significantly from the model of convergence to be applied in Ireland where those with a low Initial Unit Value will see their entitlements increase over the period of the new Basic Payment Scheme. In addition, in negotiating and developing the new Rural Development Programme, 2014-2020, I have included a number of schemes that will be of direct benefit to sheep farmers . For example, a strong commitment to continuation of funding under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme (formerly the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme), a range of supports under the new Capital Investment Scheme TAMS II, the prioritisation afforded to commonage farmers under GLAS, and support for a specific Knowledge Transfer Group for sheep farmers will be of particular benefit in this regard.

The Green, Low-carbon, Agri-environment Scheme (GLAS) will shortly re-open for applications.  Those farmers who wish to apply may do so by engaging an approved GLAS Advisor to prepare their application.  Tier 1 applicants will receive first priority access to the Scheme, followed by Tier 2 then Tier 3.  Many sheep farmers will also be commonage shareholders and as such they would receive priority access to the scheme. In relation to the possibility of funding sheep handling facilities and fencing under TAMS 2, I am pleased to say that sheep-handling facilities are already included as eligible investments.  I am also keeping the possibility of funding sheep-fencing under review.

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