Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 46: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the arrangements that will apply to the agri-environment options scheme in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7719/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I announced the opening of the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) for the submission of 2011 applications on Wednesday 6 April. The closing date by which applications must be submitted to my Department is 16 May. Scheme documentation is now available on my Department's website and printed documentation will be available shortly. To assist both planners and farmers intending to apply for the 2011 scheme, officials from my Department have arranged a series of information meetings. Details of these meetings are published in the national press.

To fund the scheme, I have put in place an allocation of €25 million per year, with a maximum payment to any farmer of €4,000 per annum, and this will determine the overall number of farmers accepted into the scheme.

While the contract will be for a five-year period, the terms and conditions and payment rates for the new participants in the scheme will apply until the end of 2013. At that stage, participants will have the option of either terminating the contract without penalty or of opting to join whatever scheme may be introduced in the new EU Financial Perspective programming period.

As happened last year, farmers with commonage land or designated Special Areas of Conservation or Special Protection Areas will have to follow a sustainable management plan prepared by a planner, and will be given priority access to the scheme. Applicants other than those requiring a sustainable management plan are not required to engage a planner to complete their application forms.