Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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964. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 788 of 15 September 2021, the progress that has been made with regard to developing a successor to the traditional farm building scheme outside or inside of the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8045/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The objective of the GLAS Traditional Farm Building Scheme is to ensure that small traditional farm buildings and other structures, which are of significant cultural and heritage value, are restored and conserved for renewed practical agricultural use as part of the normal working life of the farm. This scheme makes a significant contribution to our rural heritage, enhancing our traditional skills base and in supporting farmers in the preservation and enhancement of biodiversity. 

My Department has issued a request for tender for independent external consultants to undertake an evaluation of the Traditional Farm Buildings Scheme. Part of the evaluation work in this tender will be to make recommendations on the future development of the scheme. The tender closed for submissions on 14 February 2022.

Following the completion of the evaluation a decision on the future of the Scheme will be made.