Brian Walsh (Galway West, Independent)
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248. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for variance between the rates of payment per hectare under GLAS to farmers of commonage land and land in the ownership of a person; if he considers this variance equitable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36817/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I presume the Deputy is referring to the different rates applying to privately-owned Natura and Commonage. The costings for all GLAS actions are based on income forgone, the cost of compliance and transaction costs. The reason a higher rate of payment per hectare for commonage land has been proposed is to cover the additional costs associated with the preparation and implementation of a Single Commonage Management Plan. This plan has to be drawn up for the entire commonage, by a single agricultural advisor, and it requires the shareholders grazing the commonage to work together to deliver its objectives over a five year period. The extra effort involved, and additional overhead in terms of planning, is reflected in the proposed commonage payment rate. The payment rates for all GLAS actions have been independently verified by Teagasc.