Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Farmers apply for and receive payments under many schemes, although it is correct that in respect of environmental schemes, they have been waiting for some time for a major scheme to replace the rural environment protection scheme. The agri-environment options scheme, AEOS, was introduced as a stop-gap measure by the previous Government and maintained by this Government. While the scheme was successful, the small numbers involved meant that we needed a major environmental scheme. When GLAS is up and running, it will be worth €260 million per annum to approximately 50,000 farmers. While the scheme is not yet open, the first 30,000 participants will be accepted soon. I am moving as fast as possible to secure approval from the European Commission and we are close to reaching a verbal agreement with it on the details of the scheme. Once it opens, we will not waste time and I will encourage farmers to submit applications.

I have always made it clear that farmers should not view GLAS from the perspective of the size of grant they receive in 2015 but on the basis that they will secure access to a five-year scheme. Regardless of whether applications are accepted in August, September or October, farmers will participate in the scheme for five years and receive their first staged payment at the end of this year, with further payments for the next five years. This is a cashflow issue.

See this speech in context