Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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438. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on removing the restrictions on planting productive marginal land to ensure greater regional spread; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43925/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Most productive marginal land is already eligible for planting and many farmers avail of the generous grants and premiums on offer to plant their productive marginal land. There are some restrictions on planting land in designated areas and other environmentally sensitive areas. There is also a restriction on the proportion of unenclosed land, Grant Premium Category 1(GPC1) planted, capped at 20% in any one application.

Our analysis, based on previous planting figures, is that by lifting this 20% rule there will only be a modest increase in overall level of planting. This is also because the definition of GPC 1 land has narrowed, reducing the amount of land in this category. Also, the establishment grants do not cover the establishment costs for this GPC and annual premiums are much lower for the applicant. It follows therefore that removing the restrictions on planting this category of land will not lead to a significantly greater regional spread. However, my Department has held discussions with European Commission with the aim of removing the 20% rule and a final position has yet to be reached by the Commission. A further high level meeting between my Department and the Commission is scheduled for November 2017.