Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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217. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the instrument his Department used to alter the terms and conditions of the CAP, SPS, SFP, BPS, ANC, DAS and other schemes between 2011 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30382/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department administers the various schemes provided for under the  European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy including the Single Payment Scheme, the Basic payment Scheme (BPS) , the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, and the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme (ANC) in accordance with the relevant EU regulations.

These regulations currently include Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and the Council, Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and the Council, Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 of the European Parliament and the Council, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 809/2014, Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 640/2014 and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 641/2014. All of these regulations are directly applicable in Ireland.

My Department, at the start of each scheme year, prepares and circulates a Terms and Conditions booklet for the BPS and ANC scheme to all previous years’ applicants. These Terms and Conditions are based on the relevant EU legislation including the regulations listed above as may be amended.

It should be noted that, while the annual Terms and Conditions booklet is prepared as a guidance to farmers, the governing EU Regulations form the definitive basis for the administration of the schemes in question.