There has been no information regarding further payment runs in GLAS and AEOS, with up to 8,800 farmers still awaiting first-instalment payments in both schemes.

As the Irish Farmers Journal went to press on Wednesday, the Department of Agriculture failed to outline any updates on payments since last week.

There are 6,300 farmers participating in GLAS I and II still awaiting payments and a further 2,500 farmers in AEOS II and III waiting on first-instalment payments for 2016.

Protests

There were three protests last January organised by farming lobby groups expressing anger and frustration with the delays.

In an exclusive interview with the Irish Farmers Journal, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said he could not say when all farmers would be paid.