The number of farmers who are looking to enter GLAS II is closing in on 10,000. This means that with just over two weeks to go to the application deadline of 7 December, the second tranche is likely to be oversubscribed.

Up to now, the advisers were just able to set up and validate the application. However, the Department has confirmed they can submit applications before the end of the week.

A number of farmers have submitted plans under tier 3 and this could mean they risk not gaining access if the numbers available under the scheme remains at 13,000.

Just 87 farmers have withdrawn their applications under GLAS before the approval validation process. While 24,500 have been fully approve, some 1,500 of the 2,000 applicants under query will get accepted, with further investigation being carried out on the last 500.

At the Charter of Farmer Rights meeting on Wednesday, attendees were told that farmers would receive 85% of their payments in mid-December. The remaining 15% will be paid in May 2016.

Other environmental scheme payments due in December include 19,000 AOES recipients who will also get 85% payments. Outstanding REPS payments will also be made in Decmber.

On top of that, 1,700 farmers due supplementary payments under REPS will also get paid. Organic farmers are also set to get 85% of their yearly payments in mid-December.

Short window

The chair of the ICMSA’s farm and rural affairs committee, Patrick Rohan, has stated that the 7 December closing date for the second tranche of GLAS is hugely problematic for farmers considering applying in terms of the very short window of opportunity, and he has called on Minister Coveney to extend the closing date.