Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Eligibility for the various area-based schemes operated by the Department is governed by EU Regulations. One of the specific pillars of land eligibility is that the land must be an agricultural area, which is defined as either permanent grassland, permanent crops or arable land.

However, within the current CAP there is provision for certain non-agricultural areas to be deemed eligible in limited circumstances. The main example of this would be small areas of scrub or rock within the landscape.

At present, where a parcel of land has less than 10% scrub or rock, no reductions are made from the eligible area. Further rules with regard to how these reductions are managed are set out under The Reduction Coefficient Proceduresection of the booklet entitled The Guide Land Eligibilitywhich was sent to all Basic Payment Scheme applicants and is available at the following link, assets.gov.ie/120268/2e4c4b6a-62b2-4985-821d-780d2a3ab2b8.pdf

The CAP Strategic Plan was submitted to the European Commission on 31st December 2021 and my Department is currently in discussions with officials from the Commission about the details of land eligibility. One of the specific topics up for discussion is the issue of scattered features such as scrub and rock within parcels and how best to manage and deal with such features.

It is clear that rock and specifically rock in areas such as the Burren and Aran Islands are a critical and integral part of the landscape and will need to be considered carefully in the new CAP.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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949. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision in relation to giving a person (details supplied) a 100% penalty in the Beef Data and Genomics Programme 2021 will be overturned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18392/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The person named has a history of using all Artificial insemination (AI) in his herd However, he had recorded a sire as 'unknown' in his records submitted as part of the 2021 scheme. As a result, a query was raised and the person named did not receive his Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) payment for 2021 as it was deemed the scheme requirements had not been met.

However, in light of new information received, my Department has re-examined the case and will now make arrangements regarding the 2021 payment. The person named will be informed of this decision in writing.