Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 October 2015
347. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the omission of new hedgerow planting from the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, GLAS 2, given the take up of the option under GLAS 1, and the business it generated in local areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36098/15]
View answerThe first tranche of GLAS proved hugely successful attracting nearly 27,000 applications in all.
On the basis of the commitments provided in the plans submitted with each of those applications, it is clear that we have met or exceeded our targets for the full RDP period in a number of areas. These include the planting of new hedgerows. Given that the target for this action has been met in full, the action is not being made available for Tranche 2 of GLAS. On foot of applications received under Tranche 1 alone, some 1,300 km of new hedgerows will be planted over the coming year or so, requiring the provision of 8 million plants, which will be a major boost to the sector.
However, I should point out that this action is simply being suspended for Tranche 2, not discontinued. I will review the position again for Tranche 3 in the light of uptake of remaining GLAS actions.
