Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

Last year, provision was made in the budget by the Minister for Finance for the new agri-environment options scheme that was to be launched in early 2010. It was decided that provision would be made to allow 10,000 people to participate at a maximum payment of €5,000, a provision of €50,000 per year. Once a person joins the scheme, he is guaranteed access to it for five years. It is a commitment of €250 million in fact for those entrants of 17 May 2010. Other people who may wish to join the scheme will have to await the outcome of the Estimates process.

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