Some €3.6m issued to GLAS farmers in the form of 2017 advance payments in the last week, the latest payment update from the Department of Agriculture shows.

It comes after 40 outstanding nutrient management plans (NMPs) and 460 commonage management plans (CMPs) were submitted to the Department in the last week.

Currently, there are 570 NMPs outstanding and 420 CMPs outstanding before advance payments can issue.

Meanwhile, 3,000 to 4,000 farmers remain ineligible for the 2017 85% advance GLAS payments. Outstanding NMPs and CMPs are two reasons holding up payments.

Another issue advisers believe is holding up these payments is that there are Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) amendments required to maps.

This, they say, is a lack of communication between the GLAS and BPS sections of the Department.

As reported in the Irish Farmers Journal last week, advance payments have issued to 38,000 farmers, approximately 11,700 farmers are still waiting for payment.

">Average TAMS II grant is almost €14,000

€78m underspend at Department of Agriculture

€3.6m issues to GLAS farmers in advance payments

In total last week, some 40 outstanding Nutrient Management Plans (NMPs) and 460 Commonage management plans (CMPs) were submitted to the Department, speeding up some payments.