Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 June 2018
238. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the deadline of 1 July 2018 will be brought forward to allow farmers participating in GLAS to cut traditional hay meadows in the coming week to avail of the good weather which is forecast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28411/18]
View answer239. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the cutting date for the traditional hay meadow will be brought forward by one week in view of the weather forecast to enable farmers that are in the GLAS scheme to complete their work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28415/18]
View answer241. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding haymaking under the GLAS scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28575/18]
View answer242. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the start date for the cutting of traditional hay meadows under GLAS can be extended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28597/18]
View answer243. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for a once-off amendment to the rules regarding traditional hay meadows under the GLAS scheme to allow for the saving of hay or haylage off such crops in order to avail of the strong spell of sunny weather forecasted. [28623/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 238, 239 and 241 to 243, inclusive, together.
Joining GLAS is a voluntary commitment by a farmer to undertake certain actions during their participation in the scheme. The Traditional Hay Meadow action in GLAS promotes the maintenance of a traditional method of forage conservation that is beneficial to grassland flora and fauna. Farmers who have opted to participate in this action voluntarily commit to the closure of such meadows until July 1st and receive €315 payment per hectare per year to compensate for income foregone. In total, these farmers will be paid at least €18m this year for this one action. My priority is to ensure that farmers continue to qualify to receive payment for this action.
There are currently no plans to bring forward the date permitted for cutting these meadows.
