Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 June 2014
437. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the proposed GLAS scheme, the level of training and support that will be provided to the process by the National Parks and Wildlife Services and his Department; and when ecologists and agriculturalists will be selected and trained to do this work. [27217/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraWork on the development of the GLAS Scheme is well advanced and detailed proposals will be submitted to the European Commission in the near future for consideration and approval. The new Scheme adopts a tiered approach to applications, giving priority access to certain actions which address specific environmental issues. These priorities are targeted towards actions which mitigate climate change, enhance biodiversity and address water quality.
Once the Scheme details are finalised and submitted to the European Commission, appropriate training modules will be developed and rolled out prior to the opening of the Scheme, and these will include specialist inputs, including input from the National Parks and Wildlife Service. In addition, there will be an ongoing training element to the scheme targeted at GLAS participants.
