The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) are welcoming the announcement that the new €1.4bn GLAS scheme will open on Monday.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney made the announcement last night, marking the end of a long negotiation process with the European Commission.

The package will allow up to €5,000 be allocated for eligible farmers each year.

An additional package of €2,000 per annum will be open to those in GLAS+, in return for "exceptional environmental commitment."

GLAS, which is co-funded by the EU, is a measure that aims to deliver benefits in terms of the rural environment - focusing in particular on the preservation of habitats and species, climate change mitigation, and water quality.

While the minister also announced that he was extending GLAS+ to all farms identified as habitats of endangered birds - including the hen harrier. This means that all such farmers will automatically receive up to €7,000 a year, if the area they have to manage is large enough.

"While the formal approval process for the RDP as a whole has still to be completed, we now have a very clear understanding with the European Commission as to the shape of the new scheme, its priorities, the actions that should be applied and the rates of payment that will be made", Mr Coveney said.

"Having reached this level of agreement, and in order to allow maximum time for farmers to prepare their proposals, I have decided to launch GLAS from Monday morning when preparation of applications can commence," he added.

IFA president Eddie Downey says the money is very much needed, and describes what it will be used for.