IFA Calls on Minister Coveney to Give Accurate Information on Glas

IFA Rural Development Chairman Flor McCarthy has called on the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney to give an accurate running total of actual applications for GLAS over the coming weeks in advance of the closing date.

Flor McCarthy said that the Minister for Agriculture must ensure that up to 30,000 farmers are allowed into the scheme. For those farmers who want to apply later in the year, the autumn reopening is important but more places must also be available at that time.

The IFA Rural Development Chairman said it is also up to Teagasc and private Planners to pull out all the stops to get as many farmers into the scheme as possible at this stage.

Securing a GLAS payment later in the year is vital for low income farmers as all direct payments play a critical role.

Flor McCarthy pointed out that there is a €20m allocation in this year’s Book of Estimates for GLAS. IFA will be making the case later this year that this needs to increase substantially in 2016.

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