Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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1529. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the detail of the locally led agri-environment schemes (details given) run in conjunction with the broader GLAS; if he will encourage locally driven solutions to address local environmental and biodiversity challenges; if he will provide details and examples of the way to apply for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25041/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The new Locally-Led agri-environment schemes are an initiative of my Department designed to foster innovative new approaches to tackling environmental challenges on the ground, and encouraging a farmer-centred approach.

The first of these schemes, The Burren Programme, has already been launched and the first intake of some 200 farmers has been approved. The Burren Programme will expand to include some 500 farmers over the next few years, providing an opportunity for any qualifying farmer in the Burren to join.

My Department is also awaiting EU approval to introduce a number of other Locally-Led agri-environment schemes under the European Innovation Partnership umbrella. These include dedicated schemes for the preservation of the Hen Harrier and the Freshwater Pearl Mussel. For both of these schemes my Department will appoint an overarching project-team to develop the actions at local-level across all areas, working with farmer representatives on the ground.

There will also be a broadly based ‘bottom-up’ approach for other locally-led agri-environment schemes which will be selected on the basis of a call for proposals. The application process will be straightforward, requiring the proposers to outline their proposals, which will then be shortlisted to select those suitable for funding. The first stage of funding will be for the development of detailed project plans and, when these have been completed, the best projects will be selected and offered a budget to implement their proposals on the ground. Proposals will be specifically invited for projects addressing the conservation of upland peats.

As soon as the required EU approval has issued, my Department will begin to roll-out these additional schemes.