Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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101. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding farmland birds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22811/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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At the outset, I would like to welcome the fact that almost 27,000 applications were submitted in the first tranche of GLAS applications, which is very much in line with the projections I made when launching the scheme. The level of interest expressed in the new scheme has been remarkable.

I should also say that the prioritisation of farms with clearly identified priority environmental assets is a key component of GLAS, and one which has been broadly welcomed by farmers, environmental NGOs and the European Commission. The identification of priority farmland bird areas on the GLAS system, including Geese and Swans, was informed by the expertise of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, who provided the most up-to-date datasets available.

It is important to note that GLAS is a completely voluntary scheme and the payment rate for this farmland bird action, at €202 per hectare, is designed to take full account of the income foregone by the farmer in complying with the prescription outlined in the GLAS Specification.

That said, an assessment of Tranche 1 of GLAS will be carried out before Tranche 2 is opened in the Autumn. This assessment will look at uptake and issues arising, including the one you have raised. Adjustments to the Scheme, if any, will be on environmental grounds and will be limited given that the overall structure of GLAS has already been approved by the Commission.