The GLAS scheme participation levels surpassed the original target of 50,000 participants well ahead of the targeted date - such is the popularity of the scheme. Given that the first approvals under the scheme run from 1 October 2015 it is a remarkable achievement to have exceeded this target within a period of 15 months.
GLAS, like previous agri-environment schemes supports participants in improving their agricultural productivity and practices in a sustainable manner. The scheme delivers overarching benefits to the rural environment and also addresses the issues of the mitigation of the impacts of climate change, the enhancement of biodiversity and the improvement of water quality. The scheme provides valuable support to participants who deliver public goods and environmental benefits that enhance the sustainability credentials of Irish agriculture.
The scheme is co-funded by the National Exchequer and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. As required under EU regulation two payments issue in respect of each year – the advance payment followed at a later stage by the balancing payment.
The overriding factor in the processing of all EU funded schemes is to ensure that all regulatory requirements are respected in issuing payments. This includes the requirement that payments cannot commence until after 15 October annually.
GLAS 2017 advance payments have now issued to over 47,000 applicants, representing over 99% of all participants that are eligible for payment. Of the 25,025 applicants for GLAS 1, 24,051 have received the 2017 advance payment, with 974 remaining. 10,476 and 12,684 have been paid for GLAS 2 and GLAS 3 respectively, with the Department continuing to process applications for the remaining 674 and 502 in these tranches.
In approximately 1,600 of the outstanding cases, applicants remain ineligible for payment until they complete the steps they must take before the Department can process their payment. The general issues preventing payments taking place include the non-submission of nutrient management plans (NMP's), commonage management plans, low emission slurry spreading forms, rare breeds forms and 2017 BPS application issues that remain to be resolved.
Other cases are being examined separately to clarify what remedy can be put in place to resolve their particular issue. Where action is needed by the participant concerned the Department, if it has not already done so, will be in direct contact with them.
I anticipate that GLAS 3 balancing payments will commence in May and I would remind scheme participants that outstanding Nutrient Management Plans and Commonage Framework Plans must be submitted before this payment can be released.
In relation to the AEOS 2017 scheme year 2,101 cases have been paid in full with 145 remaining cases which continue to be processed.
Updates are published weekly on my Department’s website and clearly show that steady progress is being made in reducing outstanding cases. While my officials are prioritising the clearing of cases and where a farmer has been contacted for additional information it is important that any such request is responded to as the information requested is essential to finalise all checks.
