I thought my eyesight was failing me when I checked the Department’s weekly payment update.

The number of farmers who received GLAS payments is gone.

Instead, very large numbers that would put the EuroMillions to shame are presented.

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Some €156.7m has been paid out so far for 2018, which is not to be sneezed at and is well up on last year.

But how many farmers were actually paid or are waiting for payment? I have no idea and the Department won’t say.

A cynic would say it only shares information that paints a pretty picture, but I’m not one of those.

All I know is the neighbour up the road is owed over €3,000 and needs to pay the meal bill. He is being promised it will be paid “in the next few weeks”, over a month after he was expecting his money.

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Department inflates payment figures

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