Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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91. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason watercourses are included in the mapping for protection under the rural environment protection scheme, but are excluded from similar protection under the green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21155/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Watercourses are not excluded from GLAS. However, not every watercourse which may have been included in the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) necessarily qualifies under GLAS. REPS was a whole farm scheme whereas the GLAS is targeted at pre-determined environmental assets at individual farm level. The introduction of new regulations since the inception of REPS and in particular the implementation of the Nitrates Directive now provides general protection of watercourses under Pillar 1 allowing for a more focused approach under Pillar 2 agri-environment schemes.

My Department, in consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency, has identified specific reaches of rivers for inclusion in the Protection of Watercourses from Bovines and Riparian Margin Actions in GLAS. These rivers have been categorised within GLAS in accordance with their water quality status, with those in the most pristine condition receiving the highest priority (Tier 1) followed by lower status rivers on holdings identified as having predominantly wet soils, which qualify a farmer access to GLAS under Tier 2. Protection of other watercourses shown on the GLAS system may be taken as a Tier 3 action.