Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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491. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the criteria, deadline and other information regarding a 2018 scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47838/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The 2018 GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings Scheme is administered by the Heritage Council on behalf of my Department and applications are evaluated and ranked by an expert panel in accordance with a selection criteria published as part of the scheme.

One of the conditions of entry to the scheme is that a farmer must have a GLAS contract with my Department. The farmer must also own the building or other related structure for which funding is sought or are acting with the permission of the owner.

The principal objective is to ensure that traditional farm buildings and other related structures that contribute to the character of the landscape, and are of significant heritage value, are conserved for active agricultural use.

Grant amounts vary between €4,000 and €25,000. A grant award will not be for more than 75% of the cost of the works with a maximum available grant of €25,000.

In 2018, 44 projects were approved and 18 projects were carried forward from 2017 to 2018 due to wildlife legislation and/or exceptional circumstances.

The 2018 Scheme closed for applications on 24 November 2017 and it is expected that the 2019 scheme will open for applications in early January 2019.