Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)

The Minister will be well aware that the agri-environment options scheme deals with under-grazing and over-grazing. The Minister has said he is actively considering bringing forward a new AEOS scheme. Some 1,040 farmers in Donegal who are out of REPS 3 do not have any support, so they are crying out for a new AEOS scheme. Can the Minister confirm that he will bring forward such a scheme and, if so, will it be before the May deadline for single farm payments? Will it be at the original level of 5,000, the previous level of 4,000 or is it likely to be reduced?

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