Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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274. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding a compensation scheme for farmers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40125/18]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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My Department is currently it the midst of the Estimates 2019 process and it would be premature to indicate any funding amounts while these matters are under discussion. I should note however that the level of funding referred to was proposed by the farming organisations rather than my Department.

The Farm Plan Scheme is currently operational, albeit on a limited basis, for farmers whose management of designated areas incurs costs or actions over and above payments received through other schemes, and it is my intention to increase the scope of the Scheme on a targeted and prioritised basis as funding permits. It must also be recognised that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is operating many targeted schemes for farmers in designated areas. The DAFM GLAS scheme has provided prioritised entry into GLAS and elevated GLAS payments in certain designated areas. It is important that the Farm Plan Scheme is coherent with these schemes and the Basic Payment Scheme.