Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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944. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the new CAP scheme will compensate farmers who do not cut turf on their boglands regardless of any commitment to ensure that farmers will still be able to cut turf on their own bogs (details supplied). [34468/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Boglands (unfit for grazing) owned by farmers are not included in the agricultural area (and this has always been the case). Therefore, they are not eligible for payments nor covered under the CAP, thus it is not possible to consider compensatory mechanisms within CAP.

It should be noted that the value of blanket bogs (which may typically occur in uplands/commonage areas) and peat rich grasslands (which can occur in uplands or lowlands) are recognised under the CAP. These areas are valued and eligible for both Pillar I and Pillar II payments. As well as being eligible for BISS and ANC, such areas are recognised under the new AECM (ACRES). A number of measures will be available under ACRES to support extensive management of blanket bogs and peat rich grasslands.