Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, have to be completed before any payment can issue.
GLAS
The number of farmers in Co. Meath active in the GLAS 1 scheme is 442 and a further 211 are active in GLAS 2.
A total of 327 participants in GLAS 1 and 154 in GLAS 2, have successfully completed the GLAS prepayment checks in respect of the 2016 scheme year and a first payment instalment of 85% has issued. The balancing payment due to farmers who have received 85% of their 2016 payment will issue later in the year when the last of the required on the spot inspections has been initiated.
The most recent payments issued on the 30 January 2017. In respect of Co. Meath the 115 GLAS 1 and 57 GLAS 2 applications continue to be processed with a view to effecting payment as early as possible.
Outstanding payments under both GLAS 1 and GLAS 2 are largely delayed due to declaration of incompatible parcel usage on the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application for a chosen GLAS action; changes in parcel boundaries on which a GLAS action is chosen including splitting or merging of parcels; an applicant no longer claiming a parcel on their 2016 BPS; incomplete documentation such as incorrect information on Low-Emission Slurry Declaration; incomplete interim commonage management plans and incompatible data and parcel history on Department databases.
The number of farmers in Co. Meath active in the AEOS 2 scheme is 54 and a further 29 are active in AEOS 3.
A total of 31 participants in AEOS 2 and 21 in AEOS 3 have successfully completed the prepayment checks in respect of the 2016 scheme year and payment has issued. As in GLAS, AEOS 2016 payments are issued in two parts with an advance payment of 85% and the remaining 15% issuing thereafter. The most recent payments issued on 31 January 2017.
Outstanding payments under AEOS 2 are largely delayed due to rechecks which must be completed on payments made for all scheme years before the final contract payment can be processed.
Outstanding payments under AEOS 3 are delayed by stocking density checks - farmers had until 31 December 2015 to meet their stocking density on commonages and a density check must be completed before payment can issue.
A small number of payments under both schemes are held up due to incomplete documentation and all Scheme participants are reminded to submit any outstanding documentation as soon as possible to facilitate payment.
