Planners urged to speed up GLAS nutrient documents

PLANNERS have been urged to submit over 30,000 outstanding nutrient management plans by next week to ensure payment of overdue GLAS monies.

The remaining 15pc of the GLAS payments outstanding is worth around €25m. Only 5,000 of the plans have been submitted from the 35,000 of those awaiting payments.

The Department of Agriculture has warned planners that the NMPs must be submitted by Thursday, June 15 for GLAS 1 and 2 for payment in June.

It has warned planners that any late submissions will delay payments.

ICMSA’s Pat Rohan has urged farmers awaiting overdue GLAS monies to contact their planner immediately to ensure any information needed for NMP plans is provided to allow them be submitted.

“Given all the delays experienced so far with GLAS payments, we would think it absolutely crucial that farmers are not subjected to further delay in payments due to circumstances outside of their control.

‘Mess’

“We’re telling farmers loudly and clearly to contact their planners and get them to submit the outstanding NMPs immediately.”

Mr Rohan described the GLAS situation as a “mess”. He said that despite a commitment to pay the final 15pc by the end of May, it will now be delayed until the end of June.

IFA president Joe Healy said farmers are frustrated with delays over IT issues, and added that Minister Creed had given assurances that payments to 50,000 farmers for 2017 will begin in the autumn. “What has happened with the GLAS and TAMS schemes has caused significant distress for the farmers involved.”