Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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237. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason some organic farmers cannot receive payments under various categories under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18941/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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All EU Member States are required in the administration of their Rural Development Programmes to protect against double payment under different schemes for similar farmer commitments. Organic farmers who are also in the GLAS scheme and have opted for t he Farmland Bird, Low Input Permanent Pasture, Traditional Hay Meadow and Wild Bird Cover GLAS actions must adhere to the GLAS farming prescription for these actions irrespective of their farming system and therefore payment under both schemes cannot be justified.

Organic production is a requirement of the Organic Farming Scheme and as no agricultural production is permitted in GLAS on areas selected for The Environmental Management of Fallow Land, Planting a Grove of Native Trees and Riparian Margins GLAS actions, the question of organic payment therefore does not arise in these cases.