Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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26. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will make provision to allow farmers who own 10 ha of land to qualify for both GLAS and organic farming payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48387/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) and GLAS are both part of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is currently awaiting approval from the European Commission.

A registered organic operator may join both the OFS and GLAS, and receive payment under both schemes. In fact, registered organic farmers are guaranteed priority access to GLAS and may select from a range of options to draw down the maximum payment of €5,000 per annum on top of their OFS payments. However, for certain area-based actions under GLAS such as Low-input Permanent Pasture and Traditional Hay Meadow – both of which are capped at ten hectares – a conflict arises in that the basis for compensation under both OFS and GLAS is quite similar, particularly in relation to income foregone. Payment under both schemes for the same parcel of land would constitute double-payment and is consequently prohibited under EU regulations.

However, there is nothing to stop a beneficiary under the OFS from availing of either GLAS option – they will simply remove the relevant parcel from payment under the organics scheme and apply for the higher GLAS payment of €314/€315 per hectare instead.