Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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1184. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the qualifying criteria for a farm, company or other entity to receive CAP related payments; the maximum limit a person or entity can receive in such payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30837/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Under Direct Payments in Pillar 1 of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), there are four payment schemes:

Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), Greening, Young Farmer Scheme (YFS) & the Protein Aid Scheme

Ireland has implemented the maximum allowable level of capping of payments in the current CAP, which means the maximum payment under BPS (excluding greening) is €150,000. The maximum support under YFS is just over €3,400 and the Protein Aid Scheme currently has a maximum allocation of €3m for the whole country which is divided among the successful applicants based on area. Greening is not capped, and is distributed as a percentage of entitlement value held (roughly 44% of the entitlement value before capping).

In order to draw down payment under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and the Greening scheme, an applicant must meet the eligibility criteria as laid down in the Terms & Conditions, which include the following

- hold a registered Herd number with the Department;

- apply online within the time limits specified;

- have entitlements, one entitlement per eligible hectare claimed;

- satisfy the active farmer requirement;

- maintain the land in accordance with rules on land eligibility.

The Protein Aid scheme is open to all farmers who meet the above criteria and grow specific Protein crops. Crops eligible for the Protein Aid Scheme in 2021 are monoculture crops of Peas, Beans and Lupins.