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

The 27,000 applications submitted in the first tranche of GLAS were very much in line with the projections I made when launching the scheme. This substantial response provides us with an important signal of the ongoing importance farmers place on the sustainable management of their resources. In October, some 24,500 approval letters began issuing to farmers confirming their acceptance into the scheme. A further 2,000 cases have required some further investigation. As a result of this review, these applicants will be informed shortly whether they have been accepted into tranche 1 of the scheme. To date, 400 applicants have not met the minimum criteria for acceptance into tranche 1 of the scheme.

In terms of payments associated with tranche 1, my Department will be issuing before the end of this year 85% of the 2015 part-year payments for all those applications approved with a 1 October 2015 commencement date.

In addition, I launched a second tranche of GLAS in October 2015. The closing date for the submission of applications under this tranche is 7 December. The level of interest in tranche 2 has matched the experience of tranche 1. So far more than 10,000 applications have already been registered on the online GLAS tranche 2 application system. With a further two weeks to go before the closing date, it is clear the uptake in this tranche of the scheme will be significant and likely to match, or even possibly exceed, expectations.

This level of uptake in the scheme is a clear demonstration of the commitment of farmers to protecting, conserving and enhancing the environment while developing their farm businesses in a sustainable manner. The range and extent of actions and prescriptions that farmers have committed to under GLAS will deliver substantial environmental benefits in the years ahead. These actions will improve and maintain our water quality and will encourage biodiversity and the maintenance of valuable habitats while also promoting climate change mitigation. Several important targets set out for GLAS over the entire rural development programme period have already been achieved under tranche 1, such as the planting of hedgerows.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

My vision for the development of agriculture is founded on the guiding principle that future development must be delivered and achieved in a sustainable manner, economically, socially and environmentally. GLAS is a practical demonstration of the Government’s commitment to supporting and following through on this principle. The scheme is part of a comprehensive suite of measures that are targeted at enabling, encouraging and supporting farmers in further developing their farm enterprises and managing their resources in a sustainable manner, while at the same time delivering important public goods for the whole of society now and into the future.

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