IFA Hill chairman Pat Dunne has called on the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney to open GLAS immediately and allow maximum flexibility, so that the scheme is workable for commonage farmers.

The ongoing delay in opening the scheme was criticised at this week’s IFA national council meeting. Delegates warned that unless it opened soon, the contract start date would be delayed and farmers would receive minimal payment for 2015.

Rural development programmes for Austria, Poland and Denmark have now received EU approval. The go-ahead for seven other member states, including Germany, is expected in the coming days.

There were calls for Minister Simon Coveney to open GLAS next month (January), even if Ireland’s programme is not fully cleared.

“If the proposals put forward by IFA are implemented, the scheme will be workable,” Pat Dunne said afterwards. “These proposals include: allowing planners to operate rules in a flexible way, ensuring Commonage Management Plan is simple and is administrated and paid for by the Department of Agriculture, realistic deadlines for any minimum stocking level in GLAS and acceptance of individual stocking arrangements between farmers.

“There must be flexibility for farmers who can’t achieve the 50% target for management agreements and rapid decisions by the Commonage Implementation Committee. All commonage farmers must receive the GLAS + payment.”

While the Department of Agriculture is still awaiting EU Commission approval for its draft Rural Development Programme, preparations have continued for opening GLAS.

Training of planners has taken place, including for planners dealing with commonage land. This week, the Department gave on-the-ground training to planners in Kerry and west Cork during visits to commonage holdings.