Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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212. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a further extension of the grazing period on traditional hay meadows in GLAS until 14 May 2018 will be considered due to the hardship caused by the fodder crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19328/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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In order to alleviate the current forage supply problem, one of the initiatives put in place was an extension to the end date for grazing livestock on land containing the Traditional Hay Meadow action under the GLAS scheme with grazing by livestock permitted up to 1st May this year.

The Traditional Hay Meadow action under GLAS promotes the maintenance of a traditional method of forage conservation that is beneficial to grassland flora and fauna. My priority is to ensure that farmers continue to qualify to receive payment of €315 per hectare for this action.

There are currently no further plans to extend the period.