Latest figures released by the Department of Agriculture show that Mayo farmers account for the highest number of applications.
With 2,766 applications registerd on the Department of Agricultures online system to date, Mayo confirms the general trend that GLAS is most popular among farmers in western counties.
The Minister said that within the last week the number of applications registered on the GLAS online system has increased by over 3,700 applications and the number of applications registered with actions has increased by over 3,500 applications.
Both these figures are increasing daily, he said.
According to the Minister the ‘submit’ facility was activated last Thursday morning May 07 on the GLAS on-line system and as of mid-day on Thursday, 31 applications had been formally submitted.
Minister Coveney said to date the total number of registered GLAS applications now stands at almost 25,000 applications with the total number of applications registered with actions now at around 16,700 applications.
The county breakdown for applications and applications with actions is as follows:
No further extension of GLAS deadline, says Coveney
The Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney also said last week that he does not envisage any further extension to the deadline for receipt of GLAS applications despite concerns among some that the time allowed is too tight.
Responding to questioning on GLAS from Cork TD Michael Moynihan, Minister Coveney said he has already extended the closing date from the April 30 to May 22 and does not envisage any further extension to that.
“I have also indicated that the scheme will open for a second Tranche of applications in the autumn,” he said.
The Minister’s decision not to further extend the GLAS deadline comes in the wake of news that Teagasc recently informed 2,000 farmers that it would be unable to process their applications due to progress in the completion of GLAS plans being very slow.
It said this was due to issues outside of Teagasc and its partner in the GLAS service FRS control.