I am pleased to say that 2015 has proved to be the most successful year ever in the development and implementation of any agri-environment scheme. GLAS Tranche 1 resulted in the approval of in excess of 26,000 applications. In addition in October 2015 I launched a second tranche of GLAS which closed for submission of applications in mid December. This second tranche has resulted in a further 14,000 applications to GLAS and my Department will be assessing these applications in line with the requirements set out in the scheme Terms and Conditions over the coming weeks to ascertain which applications can be approved for GLAS.
This level of applications, which has exceeded expectations, underlines the success of GLAS in supporting Irish farmers’ commitment to further enhancing the environmental sustainability of their farm enterprises.
The level of applications to GLAS under both tranches in 2015 will result in the funding committed to the Scheme for 2016 being fully utilised. The full details of the funding required for GLAS in 2016 will not be fully finalised until the Tranche 2 approval process has been completed at the end of January.
However the value of the average contract submitted under both Tranches is over €4,000, not including GLAS Plus cases. Current indications are that some 1,400 applications from the first tranche will qualify for GLAS Plus, increasing their annual payment to around €6,500 on average.
