Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 September 2014
485. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if payments under the new GLAS scheme are based totally on standard costings or if receipts will be required to receive any payments by farmers under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34511/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s draft Rural Development Programme for the period 2014-2020 was submitted to the European Commission for approval in July and one of the things we have sought in the context of GLAS is greater flexibility with regard to the use of standard costs. It is proposed to use standard costs for non-productive capital investments carried out under GLAS and the submission of receipts will not be required in order to activate payment. However, all relevant paper work – including receipts – must be retained by the farmer. My Department will continue to assess compliance by means of on-the-spot inspections and, if necessary, evidence of receipts may be required at that time.
It should be stressed, however, that this remains a proposal and is subject to approval by the EU.
