Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I am very conscious that many farm families are and have been reliant for practically all of their farm profits on schemes such as REPS and the current AEOS. While we allow the more fertile land to be farmed in a more intensive manner to produce more food and meet the targets set under Food Harvest 2020, in addition to all of the other exciting events that will happen in the agriculture sector, I hope that in the next five years we will also ensure those managing marginal land can also survive. That is why the AEOS, even though it is not as generous as I would have liked, targets the limited resources we are aiming at it. It favours the small farmer, those farming in disadvantaged areas. If I had time, I would outline the criteria. Anybody farming in an SAC, an SPA or a commonage area automatically qualifies for the scheme. That covers up to 4,000 people for a start. As regards the remaining 4,000, if there are more applicants than places available, we will prioritise on the basis that are people are located in a less favoured area, as well as on the basis of previous participation in REPS, indicating earlier reliance on a REPS payment. After this we will look at farm size and favour smaller holdings based on the agricultural area being farmed as listed in the 2010 single farm payment application. In other words, we shall target the money available at the families and farms that need it most and those farming in an environmentally friendly manner. We will target disadvantaged areas such as Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal, parts of Kerry and west Cork to ensure the farms reliant on this income will continue to receive it.

See this speech in context