Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 October 2016
502. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the procedures governing inspection of non-GLAS farms; if he will instruct planners in his Department who are carrying out GLAS commonage management plans to provide adequate notice to non-GLAS shareholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28192/16]
View answerThe GLAS scheme includes a measure which provides support for farmers to manage their commonage lands. For commonage farmers who wish to join GLAS, the Scheme requires the development and implementation of a GLAS Commonage Management Plan(CMP) which must be prepared and completed by a trained and qualified Agricultural Advisor. The Advisor is paid by the farmers and is not working for the Department.
It is not within the remit of my Department to define the interaction between Commonage shareholders and the advisors. However in developing CMPs for GLAS participants, advisors should do so in line with the Department's guide for completion of Commonage Management Plans.
