Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

81. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made to allow a farmer, whose farm holding includes commonage grazing rights, to apply in their own right to the new green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; if he will remove the requirement for any such farmer to apply, in conjunction with at least 50% of other farmers grazing a commonage, and the requirement for a joint grazing management plan to be submitted as part of an application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6297/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Firstly I would like to point out that my priority is to put in place requirements for commonages that will deliver real and measurable environmental benefits and will fit within the framework of the Rural Development Regulations, which require that farmers are only paid for actions which exceed the baseline for the Basic Payment Scheme. At recent meetings with the E.U. Commission it was made clear that it is incumbent on Member States to ensure that payments are for actions above the baseline and that clear evidence of same must be shown in order to secure approval for the Rural Development Programme.

There has been extensive consultation with the stakeholders concerned and I am well aware of the issues arising. However, there is general agreement that the key to managing these valuable habitats is a single Commonage Management Plan (CMP), covering all participating GLAS shareholders.

I have recently met with various hill-farmer representatives and I am very confident that we can deliver a successful implementation strategy for these commonages. In this regard, I have stressed that reaching the 50% participation rate is an important target but it will not be a barrier to entry. My focus now is to secure Commission approval to the Rural Development Programme at the earliest possible date so that I can open GLAS to applications.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

82. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the new green low-carbon agri-environment Scheme will open for applications; the closing date for receipt of completed applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6298/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The detailed consideration of Ireland’s draft Rural Development Programme (RDP) by the EU Commission is now at an advanced stage and the new Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) is a key component of our RDP. I hope to be in a position to open GLAS as soon as agreement is reached with the EU Commission. In terms of a closing date, I can only make final decisions in this regard when I have EU approval to hand.