The DAFM (Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine) has commenced issuing €22.1 million in 2022 Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environmental Scheme (GLAS) balancing payments this week, it has confirmed today (Wednesday, March 8th, 2023).
The payments – which will roll into the bank accounts of some 36,500 farmers – come two months ahead of schedule, according to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue.
The balancing payment represents the final 15% of the 2022 payment and completes the total payment for GLAS actions undertaken last year.
This is the final year of GLAS payments as the scheme ended on December 31st, 2022, ahead of the roll-out of the DAFM’s new flagship agri-environmental scheme, ACRES, as widely reported by That’s Farming.
Minister comments
In a statement this afternoon, the minister said:
“I am very pleased that we are commencing these GLAS balancing payments ahead of schedule to 36,500 farmers.”
“The payments, which will commence from Friday, March 10th, 2023, will issue to 84% of GLAS participants.”
“Payments will continue to issue in outstanding cases on a regular basis. I am encouraging farmers with any queries in relation to GLAS to direct them by email to [email protected].”
“Meeting our scheme payment commitments to farmers is a key priority of mine and this continues our excellent record in recent times on this.”
ACRES
The minister added that these payments are an important cashflow boost to farmers at this time of year and are a recognition of their contribution to the “significant” environmental achievements in GLAS.
These payments of just over €22m bring the total payments made to date under GLAS to €1.35 billion.
This investment will be surpassed in the incoming ACRES, where the minister has secured €1.5bn for this flagship environmental scheme, which will commence “in the coming weeks” according to the minister.
That’s Farming reported last week that the 46,000 farmers, who applied for ACRES, have been accepted into tranche 1.
The DAFM has undertaken eligibility checks on the applications since the closing date, and all applicants for tranche 1, whose applications have passed eligibility checks, are being accepted into the scheme, the body confirmed.
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