Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

There was never a problem with funding the agri-environment options scheme last year, even for a larger scheme. The problem is that the scheme carries over year on year. Last year's budget was never a problem and there was always money available for it. The problem is next year and the year after. I could not put together a scheme to commit €40 million or €50 million, as the previous Government had, without knowing whether there would be funds available for it next year and the year after. As it turns out, that funding is not available, which is why we had to run a less costly scheme.

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