John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 490: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the options available to farmers who are currently on REP scheme 3 and will finish in April 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37257/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The new Agri-Environment Options Scheme was introduced to give farmers the opportunity to participate in a scheme which rewards actions that benefit the environment. The scheme closed to applications on 17 May, 2010 and further participation will be determined by the level of funding available to my Department. All EU funding for the scheme up to the end of 2013 is now fully committed. Any further participation in the scheme in that period will have to be funded entirely by the Exchequer and this is a matter that will be considered in the context of the annual Estimates process.