Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is important to consider my record in this area. When we have had to choose who would go into schemes, we have given small farmers priority. In the past number of budgets, when we have introduced schemes, such as the agri-environment options scheme, we have given priority to the kind of farms mentioned by the Deputy. If we must choose with GLAS and implement criteria because we have more applicants than places, they will be put in place in a way that will have the most deserving farmers get in. It is important that GLAS would not be seen solely as income support, and this must be sold to the Commission and seen in real terms as giving an environmental dividend on farmland across the country.

I assure the Deputy that small farms will not be and have never been discriminated against by me. This is about an environmental dividend. There are other schemes dealing with disadvantaged areas and support for small farms on island communities, which exemplify how we have introduced measures that have never before been done. We are more than aware that we need to keep small family farms intact and on the land, even in disadvantaged areas. We will tailor schemes to support that process in future, just as we have done in the past couple of years.

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