Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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156. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if solar farmlands are covered in the single farm payment; if not, his plans for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3700/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Support under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) is payable upon activation of an eligible hectare per payment entitlement.  In general terms an eligible hectare is one that is used for an agricultural activity.

In line with the Department’s current approach on land eligibility, where the area of a parcel covered by solar panels is 70% or greater of the overall parcel, that parcel will be wholly ineligible. If less than 70% is covered by solar panels and the agricultural activity is not hampered by the presence of the solar panels, the area not covered by solar panels may be eligible.

There are no proposals to change the eligibility requirements pertaining to solar panels at present.