Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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406. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the full value of donkeys is counted for livestock density reasons for the ANC in cases in which a farmer has donkeys for four months of the year and an equivalent amount of other livestock for the rest of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15629/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As set out in the terms and conditions of the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme, only 50% of an applicant's stocking density requirement can be fulfilled using donkeys. Applicants are required to use other livestock to fulfil the other 50% stocking density requirement.

Donkeys held by a farmer will be taken into account towards satisfying the minimum stocking density requirements for the duration they are held by the farmer, subject to the maximum threshold for donkeys referenced above. To qualify for payments under the 2022 ANC scheme, farmers must maintain the minimum required value of 0.15 livestock units per hectare for seven consecutive months and satisfy the annual average requirement of 0.15 livestock units per hectare between all livestock types held by the farmer.