The remaining payments and the balancing payments under GLAS 1 in respect of 2015 are due to be made in May 2016 when all regulatory checks have been completed, according to the Department of Agriculture.
It says that some 22,500 applicants under GLAS tranche 1 with contract start dates of October 1, 2015 are due a three-month part-year payment for the period October 1, 2015 – December 31, 2015.
To date, the Department says 21,000 applicants have received a first instalment of this 2015 part year payment representing up to 85% of the total due for 2015, with a total value of €13.5m.
Meanwhile, the Department has confirmed that a third tranche of GLAS (GLAS 3) will open later this year. It says any applicant who was unsuccessful in the second tranche will have the opportunity now to re-examine their proposed farm-plan, in consultation with their advisor, and see how it might be improved to increase their chance of selection under GLAS 3.
New IFA Rural Development Chairman
At a meeting of the IFA National Rural Development Committee last week, Joe Brady from County Cavan was elected Chairman, taking over from Kerryman Flor McCarthy, who had completed his four-year term as Chairman.
Joe Brady farms in Stradone, Co. Cavan and is a suckler and beef farmer. He is a former IFA County Chairman and Regional Chairman and brings a wealth of experience to the role.
Upon his appointment, the new Chairman thanked Flor McCarthy for the enormous contribution he has made over the last four years, and in particular for the work he did in getting vital farm schemes, such as TAMS, GLAS, ANCs, and Knowledge Transfer measures, in place.
Brady pointed out that his key priorities will be achieving further amendments to the Rural Development Programme, the early opening of GLAS to ensure 50,000 farmers are in the scheme from January 1, 2017, and getting the Targeted Output Scheme up and running in 2016.