Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

113. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has considered permitting commonage farmers signed up to the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme to be only held accountable for their individual actions, considering the collective penalty scenario currently in operation for commonage farmers whereby if a baseline breach occurs and it cannot be attributed to any one farmer, then penalties of up to 100% will apply to all farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26763/15]

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

Commonage payments have increased significantly from €75 per hectare under AEOS to €120 per hectare under the Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) and are calculated on the basis of income foregone and the cost of compliance with delivery of the GLAS action. Payments are advanced on the basis of the land being farmed to environmentally sustainable standards for the duration of the GLAS contract. In order for such payments to be made, they must exceed the baseline eligibility requirements that apply under the Basic Payment Scheme.

I have already made it clear that where failure occurs at individual level, the relevant penalty arising will be applied individually. For example, if a shareholder fails to reach the individual targets set for him or her in the Commonage Management Plan, then it is he or she who suffers the penalty. However, where a breach is found that cannot be attributed to any one shareholder the sanction, if any, will be applied to all shareholders in GLAS. Any such sanction will be proportionate to the breach found.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

114. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider providing greater flexibility in the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme for commonage farmers, with regard to how the minimum and maximum figures apply for each farmer who joins the scheme and for the overall commonage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26764/15]

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

At the outset I wish to acknowledge the number of commonage farmers, 3,934 in total, who have applied to join GLAS. They farm on nearly 2,700 commonages, which represents more than half the commonages in the country. This shows a healthy interest in the scheme, which I expect will grow as subsequent tranches are opened. Commonage lands are recognised as valuable farmed habitats and as such are given the highest priority within GLAS. The Scheme aims to pay farmers who graze and manage commonages in accordance with best environmental practice. One cohesive Commonage Management Plan will be put in place by one commonage adviser and will cover the grazing and other activities of all GLAS shareholders on the commonage.

The GLAS approach to Commonages already provides for considerable flexibility. The Commonage Management Plan will be drawn up by the shareholders themselves working with a trained GLAS adviser of their own choice. The minimum and maximum stocking densities suggested by my Department for each commonage are open to change on the basis of the plan presented by the shareholders. Each shareholder must reach their own minimum stocking density based on the overall figures established in the Plan, but I have provided for flexibility thereafter to allow some shareholders to expand further and others to remain at the minimum level, if that is what they want, and if the overall maximum density for the commonage is respected.

I am aware that the task of preparing plans will be challenging. In view of this, my Department has held recent meetings with the adviser representatives and the farm bodies to surface remaining issues of concern. In reviewing this, account will be taken of all salient factors, mindful of the overriding environmental objective of keeping these lands in good condition and the need to ensure that the actions undertaken exceed the baseline for payment under the Basic Payment Scheme.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

115. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding improvements to the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26800/15]

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

At the outset I wish to acknowledge the number of commonage farmers, 3,934 in total, who have applied to join GLAS. They farm on nearly 2,700 commonages, which represents more than half the commonages in the country. This shows a healthy interest in the scheme, which I expect will grow as subsequent tranches are opened.

Commonage lands are recognised as valuable farmed habitats and as such are given the highest priority within GLAS. The Scheme aims to pay farmers who graze and manage commonages in accordance with best environmental practice. In order to put the best management regime in place, commonage advisers will walk and assess a commonage before drawing up one cohesive and integrated Commonage Management Plan covering all GLAS shareholder on that commonage. Individual plans drawn up by different advisers would be unlikely to achieve the optimum environmental outcomes required and could represent a fractured approach to the management of these uplands. It is worth noting that payments to commonage farmers have increased significantly from €75 per hectare under AEOS to €120 per hectare under (GLAS).

The GLAS approach to Commonages already provides for considerable flexibility. The Commonage Management Plan will be drawn up by the shareholders themselves working with a trained GLAS adviser of their own choice. The minimum and maximum stocking densities suggested by my Department for each commonage are open to change on the basis of the plan presented by the shareholders. Each shareholder must reach their own minimum stocking density based on the overall figures established in the Plan, but I have provided for flexibility thereafter to allow some shareholders to expand further and others to remain at the minimum level, if that is what they want, and if the overall maximum density for the commonage is respected.

I am aware that the task of preparing plans will be challenging. In view of this, my Department has held recent meetings with the adviser representatives and the farm bodies to surface remaining issues of concern. In reviewing this, account will be taken of all salient factors, mindful of the overriding environmental objective of keeping these lands in good condition and the need to ensure that the actions undertaken exceed the baseline for payment under the Basic Payment Scheme.

As regards breaches for non-compliance under the Scheme, where this can be clearly attributed to an individual, that individual alone will bear the penalty. Any such sanctions will be proportionate.

As regards the Beef Data and Genomics Scheme, I do not agree that it is not suitable for farmers with 10 or less cows. On the contrary, I would like to remind the Deputy that I managed to secure an increased payment linked to the first 10 animals in each herd. In per hectare terms, this results in a payment of €142.50 for the first 6.66 hectares compared to €120 thereafter. This was precisely with a view to favouring smaller herds and has been widely welcomed by the stakeholders in the sector.

7,851 herds with 10 suckler cows or less have applied for the Beef Data and Genomics Programme. This equates to 27% of the total number of applications received for the BDGP, which is broadly proportionate to the level of participation of farmers with 10 cows or less in the last year of the Suckler Welfare Scheme and the Beef Genomics Scheme last year. The scheme is fully subscribed and my priority now is to engage with the applicants and provide them with the support of my Department, Teagasc and the ICBF in order to ensure that they derive the maximum benefit from the scheme.