Cork North West TD, Michael Creed has this morning welcomed the announcement by Agriculture Minister, Simon Coveney TD, that a second round of GLAS applications will be invited from the autumn. Commenting on the announcement Deputy Creed said:
“It is anticipated that 25,000 farmers will have registered for the first round of applications and a further 10,000 will be welcomed from autumn until the end of the year with view to commencing on the scheme on January 1st 2016.
“The second application process will give farmers in Cork North West who have not yet subscribed to the scheme to apply. The Minister confirmed that there has been interest from all farmers, including those with the “priority environmental assets (PEAs) identified by his Department. GLAS is structured along three distinct tiers, with priority entry to farmers in Tier 1 (that is those with PEAs such as farmland bird habitats, commonages and high status water areas), followed by Tier 2, with Tier 3 farmers being allocated places last.
“The period for formal submission of applications is expected to open very shortly. I would advise all farmers applying to the scheme to ensure that they have reviewed in detail their applications, as once it has been submitted by their advisors, no amendments will be accepted. This is why the Department has provided a long lead-period for the preparation of applications on-line. The Minister also announced that he is giving additional time to Commonage GLAS planners to get their commonage plans completed and submitted.
“There will also be a new extended date for the completion of the commonage plans, this date is now 31st August. Farmers with commonage will still have to make sure they lodge their individual GLAS applications by the 22nd May.”