Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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305. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied with the details of the new suckler grant scheme, which outline that if the land on a holding decreases by more than 20% of the amount set in 2014 the applicant will be disqualified from the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39582/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In relation to the land requirements under the BDGP scheme, it is important to note that the requirement to retain 80% of land refers to 80% of the reference hectaressubmitted under the scheme, and not 80% of the overall holding. The vast majority of participants in the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) will easily meet and exceed the land requirements necessary to receive full payment.

For example, a farmer with 10 calved cows and a stocking density of 0.5 will have access to 20 hectares but will only require 6.66 hectares for the purposes of payment under the Programme. This herdowner would then have to ensure that they submitted each year, on their SPS form, eligible forage hectares to cover at least 80% of 6.66 hectares (5.33) to ensure that they are compliant with the land requirement of the BDGP and remained within the scheme. Even if this farmer had a stocking density of 1 calved cow per hectare, they would have 50% more land than they require.

Based on numbers from the 2014 Beef Genomics Scheme, nearly half of farmers (46%) will have a stocking density of less than 0.5 calved cows per hectare whereas 90% of farmers have a stocking density below 1 calved cow per hectare. The vast majority of farmers come under a stocking density of 1 calved cow per hectare and I believe the relatively high stocking density of 1.5 established under the BDGP should provide a sufficient buffer for situations arising on most farms.

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department has established procedures to deal with appeals and force majeure for the BDGP. Any participant who may fall into difficulty in renting the required hectarage can rest assured that their situation will be considered on a case-by-case basis.