Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1553. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding stocking density and rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42116/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Department has just completed a period of public consultation on the proposed draft interventions for Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 and I have asked my officials to consider your comments as part of the development of the CAP Strategic Plan.

In terms of relevant scheme proposals, the following should be noted:

For the Areas Facing Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme, it is proposed that the minimum stocking level requirement will remain at 0.15 livestock units per hectare. The livestock requirements can be meet using the following animals, or a combination of these animals: cattle, sheep, goats, horses, donkeys or deer. Where justified on environmental grounds, a lower requirement may apply. Arable lands, which are payable in designated areas under the scheme, will not be subject to the minimum stocking requirements.

In the case of both the proposed suckler carbon efficiency scheme and the proposed sheep improvement scheme, there are no proposed stocking density limits, rather it is intended that payments will be made on stocking levels for an historical reference period as was the case with the sheep welfare scheme and the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP).