Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 March 2015
161. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which payments under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme continue to be made available and accessible to the farming community; if restrictions are likely to impede the drawing down of the benefits under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12737/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraGLAS aims to deliver overarching benefits in terms of the rural environment and address issues of climate change mitigation, water quality and the preservation of habitats and species. It is designed to specifically target environmental priorities, but there is also provision to accept applications from farmers with no such priorities, but who are committed to carrying out general environmental actions on their holdings. Access to the scheme is therefore by means of three Tiers, which will allow the most pressing environmental priorities to be addressed in order of importance, but also provides for a broad approach to delivering environmental benefits across all farming systems. In Tier 1, all farmers with Priority Environmental Assets (PEAs) get first priority access to the Scheme in year one and subsequent years. If any of the following PEAs are applicable to the holding, they must be chosen and the relevant actions planned.
- Farmland Habitat (private Natura sites)
- Farmland Birds (Twite, Breeding Waders, Chough, Geese/swans, Corncrake, Grey Partridge, Hen Harrier)
- Commonages
- High Status Water Area
- Rare Breeds
In the absence of any of the listed PEAs, a farmer (whether beef, sheep or dairy) with a whole farm stocking-rate exceeding 140kg organic Nitrogen per hectare, or any farmer with more than 30 hectare of arable crops, will be considered under Tier 1 if he or she adopts at least one of four mandatory actions identified for them. Registered Organic farmers will qualify for priority access to the scheme under Tier 1, by selecting actions appropriate to the farm.
Under Tier 2, farmers who do not have Priority Environmental Assets but whose lands include a Vulnerable Water Area, may apply for access to the scheme. In the absence of a Vulnerable Water Area, an applicant may still qualify for Tier 2 access provided that they choose one of four mandatory actions identified.
Tier 3 sets out a list of actions which can be adopted in addition to actions laid down in Tiers 1 or 2, providing a means by which farmers can maximise their GLAS payment. Tier 3 also provides a mechanism by which farmers who do not fulfil any of the criteria for Tiers 1 or 2, can apply to join GLAS.
The structure of GLAS, therefore, while targeted closely at specific priority environmental objectives, also contains considerable flexibility and the scope to attract a wide range of farmers.
