Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1997. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he plans to take to prohibit intensive farmers who face difficulties complying with the nitrates directive renting land in hill and mountainous areas (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15080/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Housing, Planning, Local Government and Heritage are the competent authority for the Nitrates regulations in Ireland.

My Department undertake the required level of inspections to meet Common Agricultural Policy commitments. During any inspection, including land eligibility inspections, where it is found that land is not being used by the claimant, this land is deemed ineligible for payment and farmers claiming such land may see a penalty applied to all their EU-funded payments.

In these cases, this area cannot be used to calculate the applicants stocking rate under nitrates regulations.