Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

61. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of participants in the GLAS scheme to date; the average annual payment per participant; the total paid out to date under the GLAS scheme since its inception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41229/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In excess of 50,000 farmers have been approved into GLAS over three tranches. There are currently almost 37,000 active participants between GLAS 1 and 2. In addition, almost 13,500 have been approved this year into GLAS 3. This level of participation exceeds the target set in Ireland's Rural Development Programme.

The average GLAS basic contract payment is €4,250 per annum.  In the case of scheme year 2015 99.5% of claims have been paid. With regards to scheme year 2016, 98.2% of advance payments have been made and 73% of balance payments.  As of the week ending September 29th the total expenditure on the scheme amounted to almost €164m.

All GLAS applications must pass regulatory controls and validations as is the case with all EU co-funded schemes.  Outstanding cases are being reviewed on a case by case basis to resolve the individual issues in each instance.

The main issue holding up the payment of outstanding 2016 claims is the fact that some participants have not yet submitted a Nutrient Management Plan (NMP). This is a core requirement of participation in GLAS. As of September 29th there were 8,278 NMPs outstanding. I urge all GLAS participants to attend to this urgently so that outstanding balancing payments and future payments can issue and to ensure ongoing participation in the GLAS Scheme.  

The Department has contacted and is continuing to contact applicants to inform them if they need to address outstanding issues.  Every effort is being made in order to ensure that outstanding payments are issued without delay. Further payment runs will be made on a weekly basis as cases are cleared.  The aim now is to pay as many participants as possible their 2017 advance payment in November of this year.  

I firmly believe that this level of participation in GLAS demonstrates the commitment of Irish farmers to the sustainable growth of the Irish agri-food sector into the future. It clearly shows that Irish farmers recognise that future growth must be based on the principle that economic benefits are compatible with environmental protection and enhancement of the resources needed to produce high quality agricultural products.