Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 March 2015
179. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will extend the closing date for the submission of applications under the new green low-carbon agri-environment scheme. [12806/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe negotiations with the European Commission in relation to the details of the new GLAS Scheme were long and protracted, which is why the earliest date I could open it was 23rd February, 2015. The original deadline set for submission of applications was 30th April, which admittedly was tight but there was no real opportunity to extend t his without impinging upon the deadline for direct payment applications generally, which has been fixed for many years now by regulation as 15 May. However, I have been working closely with the European Commission to get this regulatory deadline extended and I am delighted to say that we have achieved some flexibility on this front. While we are still awaiting sight of the Commission proposal, it is my intention, if possible, to extend the GLAS deadline to 22 May, which will provide significantly more time to submit applications for this first tranche of GLAS.
