Dr. Stan Lalor:

We are conscious that the application and submission process is part of the overall journey of a farmer through the system. On the Department's side, we are aware there are things it needs to do with the application in terms of processing, and some of that has an impact down the road in the basic income support for sustainability, BISS, and eco scheme process next year. We are conscious there is time required for that. Notwithstanding that, we are aware that extra time would allow us get more of the clients in. It still may not allow us to get all of them in but it would allow many more of the clients who are seeking to get in through the Teagasc advisers.

We have formally asked the Department for an extension and outlined the need for that. We have not had any formal response yet in terms of a final decision but, from what we can gather, that is being actively considered at present. As of now, the information we have is that, officially, the closing date for the scheme will be Monday, 21 November. We have asked the Department to consider an extension of approximately three weeks on that.