The Agriculture Minister is being accused of being in denial over the new agri-environment scheme GLAS.

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Agriculture, Éamon Ó Cuív TD, said the number of completed applications to the scheme has fallen far short of the mark despite the fact that the May 22 deadline is fast approaching.

Deputy Ó Cuív said: "Minister Coveney is continuing to gloss over the major challenges facing this to the new scheme, while failing to reveal the total number of completed GLAS applications.

"His forecast that 25,000 applications would be completed by the May 22 deadline remains to be seen, while there has been a very serious moving of the goalposts with regard to the criteria for GLAS tier 3 applications.

-- Advertisement --

"The fact that planners were only made aware of these changes 16 days before the closing date for applications is completely unacceptable and is another example of this Minister's scant disregard for the farming community.

"When I questioned him in the Dáil this week, Minister Coveney was unable to deny that the figure for commonage farmers applying for GLAS is as low as 20%. This is an unprecedentedly weak take-up, especially given such designated lands.

"Despite confirming that he'll be opening up the GLAS scheme for a second tranche of applications in September, the Minister has refused to give any assurances that the scheme will be rolled out in 2016, as many farmers who leave the REPS and AEOS schemes will not be able to join GLAS until 2016.

"The complexity of the criteria for eligibility for the new suckler beef scheme will almost certainly cause problems for farmer, as well as the delay with TAMS, is making increasingly likely that the Department of Agriculture will be facing a serious budget underspend this year."

(CD/JP)