Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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217. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the national shortage of hedge plants for the purpose of planting hedges under GLAS; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that this is affecting the ability of persons to meet hedge planting requirements by the deadline as prescribed in their GLAS plans; if he will provide flexibility in view of the hedge plant shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21183/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Hedgerow planting was an available action under tranche 1 of the GLAS scheme and due to the fact that the delivery target for the entire programming period to 2020 was exceeded in the first tranche, this action was suspended for tranche 2 & 3 applications.

Farmers who selected this action in tranche 1 were required to have  new hedgerows planted by 31 March 2017. No issue in relation to the supply of plants has been brought to the attention of my Department  and indeed when the action was suspended representations were made by nurseries to reinstate the action.