Another deadline extension is needed

FURTHER extensions of the closing dates for the Basic Payments and GLAS schemes will be needed to free-up the bottleneck in applications, a leading farm representative said this week

Already Minister Simon Coveney confirmed that the closing date for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) had been extended by two weeks from May 15 to May 29, while the closing date for GLAS had been moved from April 30 to May 22.

The Minister said that the extensions would assist farmers, and their advisors/planners, to prepare and submit their applications for both the BPS and GLAS schemes over the coming weeks.

However this week, Connacht IFA Regional Chairman, Tom Turley, told the Farming Tribune that further flexibility would be needed with both deadlines to ensure that all applicants would be accommodated.

“We want to ensure that no farmer sending in their BPS or GLAS forms will miss out, or be late, with their applications,” said Tom Turley.

He said that the main issue arising for farmers in the BPS (replacing the old Single Payment Scheme) was that of land eligibility.

“What we would be saying to farmers is that if  they a piece of land that they they think mightn’t be eligibile not to include it this year: they can always add it on over the coming years.

“If in doubt leave it out, or alternatively consult with your Teagasc advisor or agricultural consultant, to avoid any problems that could arise later on with inspections,” said Tom Turley.

Earlier this month, Minister Coveney said that up to the first couple of days in April, 8,253 applications had been submitted under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme online system, compared to 7,962 applications in 2014. Over 10,149 applications had ‘been created’ on the new online GLAS system, the Minister said.

Tom Turley, said that there was a common sense element to the deadline extensions, given the changes coming into effect this year as regards the new Basic Payments Scheme and the introduction of GLAS. However another extension of the deadlines may be needed, he said.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.