Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 October 2017
492. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons out of the number of approved applicants to the GLAS schemes 1, 2 and 3 that received the 85% payment and are awaiting the 15% payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42222/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are currently almost 37,000 active participants between GLAS 1 and 2, with approximately 13,500 further applicants approved into GLAS 3, meaning that the target set in Ireland's Rural Development Programme has been exceeded.
Despite the scale of the scheme, 99.6% of basic contract payments have been made in respect of 2015. For 2016, 98.4% of advance payments and 73% of balance payments have already been processed. The main reason for outstanding balancing payments is the failure by participants to submit their Nutrient Management Plan, NMP. This is a core scheme requirement.
As of today, there are 7,820 NMPs outstanding for 2016 balance payments. My Department has brought this matter to the attention of GLAS participants and advisors, and I would encourage these participants to submit their NMP as soon as possible. This is a matter not just for their 2016 balancing payment but also prevents them from receiving future scheme payments.
