Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister talks about myths. I am quoting back to him his predecessor’s commitments in respect of this programme and in respect of GLAS. They may have become myths at this stage but they certainly were not myths when the commitments were made.

I will move on to the question of expenditure on the GLAS programme. GLAS III has reopened and 14,000 farmers have applied to it. This year's budget for GLAS III is €214 million. If those 14,000 additional farmers under GLAS III are to be paid for the full calendar year of 2017 and if the average payment is the same as what it was until now for GLAS I and GLAS II, that is, approximately €4,500, it would take €236 million in 2017 to pay fully those 14,000 additional farmers who have applied and who have been told they will be accepted. However, the figure in this year's budget for GLAS is €214 million. There is therefore approximately a €20 million or €22 million discrepancy in the figures - that is, if the average payment is what it has been until now. Obviously, those 14,000 farmers who have applied to GLAS III are hoping to be paid for the full year and hoping the budget will be there this year. I ask the Minister to address this discrepancy in the GLAS budget for this year. Does it arise from the fact that farmers will not be paid for the full 12 months or the fact that the Minister expects the average payment to be less than what it has been until now?