Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 39: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason agriculture environment options scheme farmers with Natura land have a different start-up date from those without Natura land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45195/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The EU rules governing the AEOS and Natura Schemes require that comprehensive administrative and validation checks must be carried out on all applications before letters of approval may issue. Natura and Commonage applications, which included a Sustainable Management Plan, required additional checks to be carried out in order to satisfy eligibility and audit requirements. These additional checks have now been completed and all Natura/Commonage farmers who submitted a valid application have received, or will receive in the next few days, approval letters with a start date of 1st November, 2010.