Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 463: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of applications for the Agri-environment option scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25293/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Some 9,060 applications for the new Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) were received in my Department by the closing date of 17 May 2010.

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 464: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the expected cost for 2010-2011 of the agri-environment option scheme following the recent closing date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25294/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Some 9,060 applications to join the new Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) have been received in my Department. It is not possible to estimate the expected cost for 2010–2011 until each application is assessed for eligibility and each payment is computed. This work is now under way.

I am satisfied, however, that the financial provision in place is sufficient to service all applications found to be eligible.

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 465: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the rationale for the once-a-year application date for the agri-environment option scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25295/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The date for receipt of applications under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme is fixed by the European Commission Regulations governing all EU-funded areas-based schemes, and my Department has no discretion in the matter.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 466: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans to accommodate REP scheme participants whose contracts are due to expire between now and the end of April 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25324/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The new Agri-Environment Options Scheme which I launched on 30 March was open to those farmers who finished their contracts in REPS 3 on or before 30 April 2010 as well as to new entrants. The Scheme has proved very popular, with over 9,000 applications received by my Department by the closing date of 17 May. This uptake means that all EU funds available for agri-environment measures will be fully utilised, and that any further entrants to the Scheme would have to be funded entirely from the Exchequer.