GLAS Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2015

Tuesday, 3 March 2015

Questions (285)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

285. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the recent announcement regarding the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme and green low-carbon agri-environment scheme+, if he will please advise whether a farmer, who has finished with the agri-environment options scheme 1 and-or with the agri-environment options scheme 2, may transfer to these green schemes, and if it is possible to make this transfer without incurring a penalty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9174/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I am pleased that, following long and complex negotiations with the European Commission, I was in a position to open GLAS on Monday 23 February 2015. Farmers who are already in AEOS may apply to join GLAS, if they see a benefit in doing so, and priority will be given to those AEOS farmers with Commonage land or with Hen Harrier priority environmental areas identified on their farms.