Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to clarify a couple of points. I attended the Agricultural Consultants Association annual conference and was asked about this matter at the end of it. It was just coming up to the deadlines for area aid applications, in May. Those to whom I spoke said the workload at that time made it very difficult for them to get nutrient management plans in. They said everything was running to deadlines of 31 May, 12 May, 15 May or otherwise. They asked for an extension. This was nothing to do with the Department's system at that time. The deadline has been extended several times. One can see the point on trying to spread the workload. What has happened since the time in question is that the money is ready to be paid to the 6,000 people in respect of nutrient management plans. The button, if it is pressed, will not issue a payment until there is a management plan. It has nothing to do with consultants or the IT system. It is a matter of acknowledging the problems earlier in the year. I hope there will be a far higher percentage dealt with when the advance payments for 2017 are being made, assuming everything is right. The 6,000 need to get the plans in so they can get the balancing payment of 15% and be in a position to receive the advance payment for 2017.

With regard to the commonage management plans, the portal opened only a month ago. The target is 31 October to enable the making of the payments and future payments. Any activity beyond that deadline will cause a delay. Even if there is an extension of the deadline, the payments cannot be made until the commonage management plans are submitted.

It is fair that the Deputy acknowledges that the GLAS is huge, including over 52,000 farmers. The moneys will be fully drawn down over the lifetime of the programme. The moneys may not all be drawn down on the date the programme ends because of the way payments naturally follow. We have done everything possible to communicate with all stakeholders the need to get the nutrrient management plans in so payment can be issued. It is not in the Department's interest to hang on to money any longer than it has to. I can assure the Deputy of that.

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