Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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341. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who applied under tranche 1 of the new green low-carbon agri-environment scheme will qualify for the top-up payments for farmers who are able to avail of two or more priority measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46824/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The full details of the number of GLAS Tranche 1 applications which qualify for GLAS+ payments, as a result of their applications including two or more priority environmental measures, will only be available when the full year GLAS payment calculations are finalised . The calculation of full year GLAS payment rates per application are under development by my Department but current estimates indicate that some 1,400 Tranche 1 applications will qualify for GLAS + payments.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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342. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of tranche 1 applications he has received under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; the average expected payment for those who have applied; the amount of the initial funding allocation which will be required to cover the total payments for those who applied under tranche 1; the amount of the initial allocation which will be left unspent, what he intends to do with any unspent funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46825/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am pleased to say that 2015 has proved to be the most successful year ever in the development and implementation of any agri-environment scheme. GLAS Tranche 1 resulted in the approval of in excess of 26,000 applications. In addition in October 2015 I launched a second tranche of GLAS which closed for submission of applications in mid December. This second tranche has resulted in a further 14,000 applications to GLAS and my Department will be assessing these applications in line with the requirements set out in the scheme Terms and Conditions over the coming weeks to ascertain which applications can be approved for GLAS.

This level of applications, which has exceeded expectations, underlines the success of GLAS in supporting Irish farmers’ commitment to further enhancing the environmental sustainability of their farm enterprises.

The level of applications to GLAS under both tranches in 2015 will result in the funding committed to the Scheme for 2016 be ing fully utilised. The full details of the funding required for GLAS in 2016 will be not fully finalised until the Tranche 2 approval process has been completed at the end of January.

However the value of the average contract submitted under both Tranches is over €4,000, not including GLAS Plus cases. Current indications are that some 1,400 applications from the first tranche will qualify for GLAS Plus, increasing their annual payment to around €6,500 on average.