Mayo based Deputy Michael Ring, Fine Gael spokesperson for social protection, has questioned the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Brendan Smith in the Dáil in relation to the new Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS ) which replaced REPS. A total of 1,063 applications for the scheme was received from County Mayo.
“Letters of approval have issued to almost 6,000 applicants for the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS ), giving farmers a start date in the scheme from September 1 2010,” Minister Smith replied. “This represents almost two-thirds of all applicants and the processing of these applications was carried out within a challenging time-frame. My officials are giving priority to processing the remaining applications with a view to issuing further approvals as soon as possible.”
Deputy Ring also questioned the Minister about AEOS participation for those who finish their REPS post-May and if they would be allowed to join the new AEOS. Minister Smith stated: “Further participation in the new Agri-Environment Options Scheme will be determined by the level of funding available to my Department. All EU funding for the scheme up to the end of 2013 is now fully committed. Any further support in that period will have to be funded entirely by the Exchequer and this is a matter that will be considered in the context of the annual Estimates process.”
