Plea for launch of GLAS scheme
SERIOUS concerns have been expressed by Galway farm leaders over the failure of the Dept. of Agriculture to confirm a starting date for the GLAS environmental project – five months after the scheme was sent to Brussels for consideration.
Connacht IFA Chairman, Tom Turley, told the Farming Tribune that there was no excuse for the scheme not having started, given that it had been submitted to Brussels on July 2 last.
“We are concerned about the small amount of money that has been set aside for GLAS payments in 2015 by the Minister for Agriculture. This is a scheme that we want to get up and running straight away – we want the flow of payments from GLAS to start as soon as possible next year,” said Tom Turley.
He also pointed out that there were concerns that progressive lowland farmers who had embarked on a reseeding policy in line with good farming practice, would find it hard to find enough measures to claim the maximum €5,000 payment.
Mr. Turley said that there were also worries that the acreage for the traditional hay meadow measures and low input permanent pasture were now restricted to 10 hectares or less than 25 acres.
“We want to see as many farmers as possible getting into the GLAS scheme and it is our intention that no eligible farmers who wants to join this environmental scheme will be turned away.
“But we are now into December and yet the scheme hasn’t been launched. Queries that had been raised by the European Commission should have been well dealt with by now,” said Tom Turley.
It has also been confirmed that that the Farm Relief Service have been confirmed as the ‘preferred bidder’ to provide the GLAS planning service for Teagasc clients.