Despite the creation of 17,900 GLAS III online applications, hopes are building that more farmers will be included in the scheme.

This is stemming from the fact that every farmer considering making an application had to give permission to their planner to create an online application. This was required to carry out a preliminary GLAS check.

Planners are suggesting that the number of plans finalised and submitted by the closing date of 15 December will be substantially lower than the number created.

In previous GLAS tranches, the difference between applications submitted and created was up to one quarter. If this is going to be the case in the third tranche, over 13,400 applications would make final submission.

Pressure mounting

Pressure is mounting on Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed to approve as many submitted applications as possible given the financial pressure on farms. The Minister confirmed this week that farmers already participating in GLAS will be issued 85% of their GLAS payments before the end of 2016.

The Department has revised commonage conditions for GLAS I and GLAS II to include commonage shares declared in 2015, irrespective of whether they were declared previously. New entrants to farming in 2016 and declared commonage in their first BPS application in 2016 are also eligible.

All applicants

IFA rural development chair Joe Brady has urged Minister Creed to allow all farmers who apply for GLAS III into the scheme.

“An extension of Thursday’s deadline will be necessary as all farmers who wish to apply must be facilitated. IFA has urged the Minister to allow in excess of 50,000 to be in GLAS from 1 January 2017.

A charter of rights meeting tomorrow will be focusing on the payout to 38,000 farmers in the first two phases of GLAS.

“The Minister’s commitment to commence payments next week must be honoured as already the timelines in the charter have been missed. Also AEOS payments to 9,000 farmers are due and must now be paid Joe Brady will be demanding,” Brady said.

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