Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Considering the expenditure on the agri-environment options scheme, AEOS, and the rural environment protection scheme, REPS, one can see that the expenditure for 2010 - the last full year we were in Government - was €321 million, and it fell to €275 million in 2011, €253 million in 2012 and an estimated €200 million this year. Based on the Minister of State's estimates, it will only be €171 million next year.

My question is quite simple. It would cost approximately €10 million to approve the remaining valid applications under the AEOS. This year saw an unprecedented crisis in farming, so farmers need every bit of support they can get, particularly in maintaining good environmental practice. As there would be no cost implications this year because payment would not be made until next year, will the Minister of State consider allowing the remaining 3,000 farmers into the AEOS?

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