GLAS balancing payments worth over €26m are to be brought forward to the end of the week, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has announced. Some 42,300 farmers, representing 87% of all those in the scheme, will see money reaching their bank accounts early next week. The balancing payment is worth 15% of farmers’ annual GLAS payment.

Minister Creed said: “At this difficult time, I am pleased to be in a position to commence these GLAS balancing payments a month ahead of schedule.”

The move was an important part of the response to COVID-19, the minister added.

The priority for the Department now will be to make payments to other farmers in the scheme as they become eligible.

Any queries in relation to GLAS should be directed by email to GLAS@agriculture.gov.ie. Farmers have been asked to wait until they heard from the Department as to whether their payment has been issued before making contact.