Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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436. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers awaiting payment under the GLAS scheme for 2015 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40466/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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In relation to 2015 there are a small number of GLAS 1 farmers representing 0.5% of all GLAS 1 participants where payment is outstanding.

In relation to 2016 advance payments to GLAS 1 and 2 participants, payments have issued in over 98% of cases. In most of the cases outstanding documentation has been requested from the GLAS participants on a number of occasions but remains outstanding. These cases will be processed for payment as soon as the outstanding replies have been received.

2016 GLAS balancing payments are also issuing on an ongoing basis. The main issue with these payments is the need for a Farm Nutrient Management Plan to be submitted to the dedicated online system on behalf of each participant. There are currently approximately 8,800 Farm Nutrient Management Plans outstanding. All GLAS 1 and 2 participants are urged to ensure the submission of these plans as soon as possible to allow outstanding and future GLAS payments to issue.