Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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484. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure that there are sufficient planners in place to prepare GLAS plans for commonage areas; the method by which the shareholders will be expected to agree and select a planner for the development of a GLAS plan for farmers with commonage holdings; if public procurement rules will apply as these contracts could involve the preparation of over 100 individual GLAS plans for the individual shareholders in the same commonage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34510/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My officials have held meetings with the Agricultural Consultants Association and with Teagasc regarding the preparation of GLAS Commonage Management P lans and I believe there should be a sufficient complement of agricultural advisors available to carry out this important work. Only one Plan will be submitted for the entire commonage, which may be contributed to by a number of planners , so the question of public procurement does not apply. It is for the shareholders to select their planner and to work together to draw up the best possible plan for their Commonage.