Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is vital that GLAS recognise and be directed towards high nature value farming or farming on marginal farms, basically in the north west. While the scheme will target 50,000 farmers, it will be nationally based. The farmers in the north west need a scheme that is more focused on them and which provides additional funding for them, recognising the difficulty in maintaining farm incomes in their area and the value that accrues for the State in general from preserving the environment and biodiversity. I ask that GLAS be pitched more towards these types of farmers so they can receive the maximum amount of funding. One is talking about a maximum annual payment through GLAS of approximately €5,000, which is similar to the payment under the AEOS. If the matter is dealt with in this blanket way, it will not recognise the value of high nature value farming to the State.

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