Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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1445. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect to receive a payment for the 2016 areas of natural constraint scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1472/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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An application under the 2016 Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme was received from the person named on 4 April 2016. Payment under the Scheme has not issued to the person named as, at this stage, the holding concerned has not satisfied the Scheme’s minimum stocking density requirements.

Under the 2016 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme, flock owners are requested to comply with EU Regulation 21/2004 and return an annual count of the numbers of sheep on their holding via the annual sheep census. The December 2015 Sheep Census was required to be returned to the Department by an initial closing date of 29 January 2016. This date was extended to 16 May 2016 for the purpose of Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme. Examination of department records confirms that this sheep census was not return until 19 May 2016.

As the census in respect of the person named was not received before the closing date of the scheme, unfortunately this case cannot be considered for payment under the 2016 Area of Natural Constraints Scheme. The person named was notified of this and his right to appeal this decision to the Agriculture Appeals Office.