Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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357. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the farming of alpaca livestock can be used when calculating eligibility for the single farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47673/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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There are currently no stocking requirements for eligibility under the Basic Payments Scheme. However, under the Area of Natural Constraints Scheme, all eligible applicants are required to meet a minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock units per eligible forage hectare for a retention period of seven consecutive months, in addition to maintaining an annual average of 0.15 livestock units calculated over the twelve months of the scheme year. These stocking density requirements can be satisfied by cattle, sheep, goats, deer and equines. Therefore, alpacas are not eligible animals under the scheme.