Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason a person (details supplied) did not qualify for their agri-environment option scheme in a special area of conservation from the time of application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47174/10]

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 and a letter has issued to the person named the person approving his participation in the scheme with a start date of 1st November, 2010.