Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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563. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an ECO and hardship payment will issue to a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29105/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I refer to the Eco-Scheme payment for this herd and in particular the 30% balancing payment.

As you may be aware there was a change to this herd number that resulted in delays to the Eco-Scheme payment including the balancing payment. These issues have now been resolved and I have been informed that this herd will receive the balancing payment in the next balancing run which is due week commencing 15th July 2024.

The main criteria for the Hardship Grant compensation scheme under the Bovine TB Eradication programme is that the herd has more animals on the same date as in the previous year during the November to April period. This is to assist herdowners who find themselves having to maintain additional animals in this period as a result of TB restriction. The herd in question was eligible for one month of Hardship Grant.

This payment issued to the herdowner on 20^th March 2024. For the remainder of the Hardship Grant Season the herd had less animals than the previous year and so was ineligible for the Hardship Grant.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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564. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will waive the areas of natural constraints scheme stocking density requirement for herds that have been depopulated with TB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29113/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme requires applicants to meet specific stocking requirements to be eligible for payment under the scheme.

Applicants need to fulfil both of the following stocking requirements.

1. Annual Stocking Rate: Applicants must meet their annual average stocking rate requirement calculated over the 12 months of the year (minimum 0.10LU/ha)

2. Retention period: Applicants must maintain a stocking density equal to or greater than 0.10 LU/ha for a minimum of 28 consecutive weeks in the calendar year.

In cases where a holding has been restricted due to the presence of an animal disease e.g. T.B. and becomes depopulated, it may not be possible for the applicant to meet these stocking requirements.

Where this occurs, the stocking requirements are waived until the applicant has been informed by my Department that the herd has become derestricted.

Upon notice of derestriction, applicants are required to meet the minimum stocking density within 20 working days of the date of derestriction. Where this may not be possible individual cases will be examined on a case by case basis.