Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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144. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps being taken by his Department to assist, and support, farmers in completing the basic payment scheme, and applications to the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, ahead of 15 May 2015 deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10988/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Information sessions on GLAS and the BPS Scheme, which commenced on Monday of this week , are being rolled out across the country to inform farmers of requirements under these schemes. These meetings are open to all to attend. Details of the venues and times have been published in the national and farming press and are available on the Department website. Feedback from the initial meetings is very positive. Department personnel are available at these meetings for question and answer sessions following the presentations. I would encourage farmers to attend where possible. On a practical level both schemes have bespoke online application systems that streamline the application system.

In addition I have ensured that both schemes have dedicated e-mail addresses and Lo Call phone numbers to deal with farmer queries as they arise.