Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 October 2015
86. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the locally led targeted agri-environment output scheme will be rolled out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35067/15]
View answerA number of distinct agri-environmental schemes are planned under a new locally-led measure, which is under negotiation at present with the EU. The new measure is designed to complement the approach taken under GLAS and to explore different ways of tackling specific environmental challenges at local level. Each new scheme requires to be brought in by way of a formal amendment to the Rural Development Programme, which in turn means that each separate scheme has to be very substantially evolved before it can be presented to the Commission for consideration. The first of these schemes will build on the success of the various Burren Life programmes and will be fully operational in 2016. The remaining schemes will be designed over the coming months in consultation with key stakeholders and presented to the Commission early next year.
