Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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2453. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers will still be able to claim their single farm payment for planted forestry land after their forestry premium runs out after 15 years and their agroforestry premium runs out after five years (details supplied); his plans to change the current situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18479/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Land which was afforested since 2009 is eligible to draw down a BPS payment provided that the afforested land meets the following requirements:

- The land to be afforested was declared on a 2008 Single Payment Scheme application form

- The area must have given a right to payment under the 2008 Single Payment Scheme

- The farmer must be the person or persons eligible for payment of the forestry premium

- The afforested land meets all the requirements of the Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme, FEPS, the Native Woodland Establishment Scheme, the Agroforestry, or the Forestry for Fibre Scheme

Where the period of premia payments under the afforestation measure has concluded, farmers can continue to claim these parcels as eligible for BPS once they maintain the commitment to that particular afforestation measure. This includes agroforestry.