The early opening of GLAS III and allowing over 50,000 farmers to participate in the combined GLAS schemes has been raised in political talks on a new government. In January, Minister Coveney said GLAS III would open for applications next autumn – indicating contracts running from 1 January.

Independent TDs have proposed to Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil that it open earlier, giving farmers more time to apply. But, that might not advance contract start dates, as processing of 2016 Basic Payment Scheme applications must be completed before GLAS eligibility is confirmed.

Also, the Department must review individual GLAS measures to see which have already met target uptake.

There are 38,000 participants in the overall GLAS scheme but 2,500 non-priority Tier 3 farmers were, in January, denied entry into GLAS II.

That month Coveney referred to the figure of 50,000 participants as a “target”, not as a ceiling.