Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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13. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason he has, at this late stage, introduced a marking system for the evaluation of applications under Tier 3 of the green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme; his views that it is proportionate; if he acknowledges the burden it is placing on applicants and their planners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18630/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The use of ranking for selection has always been a requirement of the GLAS Scheme. The ranking system itself has not changed – it remains the case that Tier 1 receives priority over Tier 2 and Tier 2 over Tier 3.  The Terms and Conditions of the Scheme have always made specific reference to the use of selection criteria in the ranking process and the most recent communications, which were included in a circular to all advisors, simply makes it clear that for Tranche 1 their use will be confined to Tier 3 applications.  This is the minimum required under the terms of the agreed Rural Development Programme.

The selection criteria in question are included in the RDP and were discussed with the RDP Monitoring Committee some weeks ago, which includes representatives of the various stakeholder interests.  I am happy that what has been proposed is both fair and proportionate. I do not accept that it lays an undue burden upon applicants or their advisers: in that regard, my Department has provided all advisers with a ready reckoner to allow them to predict the scores for the various applications they have prepared very quickly. This will allow them to confirm that each exceeds the required pass-mark and will also help them decide whether they should make any changes before submission. For example, the selection of key actions that guarantee promotion from Tier 3 to Tier 2 is an established and well-recognised feature of GLAS, and one which both the Department and the Minister have consistently encouraged as a means of significantly increasing the probability of selection in this Tranche.

As we approach the closing date for GLAS it is important that farmers and their advisors critically review their applications to ensure that the best possible projects are presented to the Department.