The series of 14 meetings will be held from Monday 9 March to Tuesday 31 March and will provide information to farmers on future requirements in relation to the Basic Payment Scheme under Pillar I and the GLAS scheme under Pillar II of the CAP.

Commenting on the meetings, the Minister said, “this is an important opportunity for farmers to inform themselves on how the key elements of the new CAP reform arrangements will operate.

"They will have an opportunity to obtain information and advice in relation to the new Basic Payment Scheme, National Reserve, Greening and the new GLAS agri-environmental scheme. In the case of greening and on-line applications, farmers will also be facilitated in obtaining advice on a one-to-one basis from Department staff, which will be available during the afternoons at the same venues.”

The first in the series of regional information meetings for farmers on the 2015 CAP will be held on the following dates between 9 and 13 March at the following venues:

Monday 9th March 2015 in the Raddison Blu, Letterkenny, Co Donegal @ 8pm

Tuesday 10th March 2015 in the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone, Co Westmeath @ 8 pm

Wednesday 11th March 2015 in the Knightsbridge Hotel, Trim, Co Meath @ 8pm

Thursday 12th March 2015 in the Keadeen Hotel, Newbridge, Co Kildare @ 8 pm

Friday 13th March 2015 in the Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny @ 8 pm

The Department says it intends to hold further meetings in Wexford, Tipperary, Cork, Killarney, Limerick, Galway, Castlebar, Sligo and Cavan and that details in relation to these meetings will follow.