The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D., today announced that the 2021 advance payments under the Green Low-Carbon Agri Environment Scheme (GLAS) will commence this week ahead of schedule. Payments amounting to €118m will arrive in almost 34,000 GLAS farmers’ bank accounts this week. This brings payments to farmers under the scheme to date to almost €1.1billion
The Minister said, “I am delighted to confirm that advance payments to 34,000 GLAS participants, valued at €118 million are issuing this week. This is a week ahead of schedule and. farmers across the country will benefit from these payments.
“It is always a key priority of mine and the Department to issue payments as quickly as possible as I know how critical they are to farmers and their businesses. These advance payments at a rate of 85% of the full annual payment are an important support to farmers in the delivery of key environmental actions and of course are important to the wider rural economy.”
The Minister continued, “I have previously outlined that a key priority for my Department is the efficient issuing of scheme payments to farmers. I am very pleased that these payments are commencing one week ahead of our stated target of mid-November. I am also pleased to confirm that GLAS payments valued at a total of over €1.12 billion have now issued to Irish farmers since the commencement of the GLAS scheme in October 2015.
The Minister also added that “the relationship between agriculture and the environment is more important than ever and the enthusiasm of farmers to participate in agri-environment schemes such as GLAS shows their commitment to environmental action. To date this scheme has delivered a range of benefits across the key priorities of water, biodiversity and climate”.
These environmental benefits from GLAS to date include:
- The Low Input Permanent Pasture and the Traditional Hay Meadow actions are delivering over 320,000 hectare of diverse grassland species;
- Over 20,000 hectares of Wild Bird Cover has been planted providing winter feed for farmland birds;
- Over 1.6m trees planted;
- Over 4,500 farmers are using Low Emission Slurry Spreading technologies to spread slurry.
It was also confirmed that GLAS 2021 advance payments will continue to issue on a weekly basis as cases are cleared and approved for payment. Any scheme participants with outstanding actions or documentation to return to the Department are asked to do so immediately in order that their payment can be processed.
Notes for editors:
In order to facilitate farmers wishing to contact the Department regarding their GLAS payments, extended hours are in place for the GLAS Helpline that will be open until 8.30pm on Wednesday to Friday 10th to 12th November, Monday to Friday 15th to 19th November and Saturday 13th and 20th November up to 1pm.
The GLAS Helpdesk can be contacted at 076 1064451.
Farmers can also submit any queries they may have be email to GLAS@agriculture.gov.ie .
Regular pay runs will take place over the coming weeks to issue payments as GLAS cases are cleared for payment. Any GLAS participants with outstanding documentation including LESS or Rare Breed Forms or those who have been contacted by my Department with queries in relation to their GLAS participation or BPS application are advised to respond as soon as possible in order to facilitate the early issue of payments.