More than 200,000ha of farmers’ land in Ireland is ruled out of farm payments by EU regulations.

Land eligibility rules set down by Brussels officials mean that 213,245ha of land owned by farmers does not qualify for area-based payments.

Figures seen exclusively by the Irish Farmers Journal show that there are areas of land in all 26 counties that do not qualify for payments.

While these lands do not meet requirements for direct payments, it has been argued that they should be eligible for agri-environmental schemes.

It seems hypocritical not to permit land for eligibility under CAP that provides carbon storage and is rich in biodiversity

“There is a clear contradiction in current policy, which is negating increasing environmental measures on land farmed,” Fianna Fáil’s Charlie McConalogue said.

McConalogue, who obtained the figures from the Department of Agriculture, said the area included scrubland and streams which are high in biodiversity, but ineligible for CAP payments.

He said marginal land should be eligible for environmental measures and enhancing biodiversity.

“It seems hypocritical not to permit land for eligibility under CAP that provides carbon storage and is rich in biodiversity,” he added.

The majority of this ineligible land is concentrated along the west coast, which also has the highest percentage of high nature value farmland.

While Cork leads the way (26,024ha), Galway (23,903ha), Clare (21,128ha), Mayo (17,436ha) and Kerry (16,857ha) follow close behind.

The Government must make the case to European authorities that this land should be eligible under the next CAP

Leitrim and Donegal also feature prominently, while Louth, Carlow and Kildare prop-up the table, with just 5,464ha ineligible between them.

“The Government must make the case to European authorities that this land should be eligible under the next CAP and at least qualify for biodiversity payments under the Rural Development Programme,” said McConalogue.

At EU level, the Department has expressed a view that land eligibility rules in the next CAP should be drawn up in a way that allows “the maximum level of environmental, climate related and biodiversity benefits to be delivered,” according to McConalogue.