Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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296. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of moneys allocated under budget 2015 towards the GLAS scheme; the number of farmers who will be provided for under the GLAS scheme in 2015; the average payment per farmer under GLAS for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40277/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As I said in my contribution to the Budget debate, I am providing for up to 30,000 farmers to join GLAS next year, with an allocation of €20 million indicated for 2015. The maximum payment available per annum is €5,000. As this is a voluntary scheme, driven by the actions selected by the applicants themselves, it is not possible to say in advance whether all farmers will draw down the maximum amount. However, it should be clearly understood that payments in respect of 2015 will be in respect of a part-year only, with a maximum first instalment of 75% of whatever is due payable next year. This is the usual approach taken in the introduction of a ll new agri-environment schemes. However, I should also point out that all farmers joining GLAS in 2015 will go on to receive an additionalfive years of full payment from 2016 on. Any payments made for 2015 will be over-and-above what would usually be payable over the standard five year contract. It should be remembered that the launch of GLAS is dependent on Ireland getting EU approval for our new Rural Development Programme. The EU Commission is now considering Ireland’s draft Programme.