Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

489. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of participants in the AEOS and GLAS schemes in each year to date since AEOS was introduced; his plans to open a new environmental scheme in 2020 to replace GLAS or allowing those that have left GLAS and AEOS to re-join GLAS while the new CAP is being decided on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10215/20]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is not possible, at present, to make decisions in relation to schemes implemented under the Rural Development Programme, including GLAS, until confirmation is available at EU level on the budget and timeframe for a transitional period. Ireland has pressed for the earliest possible adoption of these regulations, so that my Department may plan for the transitional period with legal and financial certainty and consequently provide clarity to farmers and rural communities as soon as possible.

Any extension to or replacement of schemes would be dependent on the appropriate budget being available, as well as sufficient time being available from the adoption of the legal framework to allow administrative provisions to be put in place. The Department is currently considering these matters in the context of giving effect in due course to the transitional arrangements should they be adopted.

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.