Tom Barry (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 288: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will endeavour to move payments under the agri-environment options scheme forward from August as persons who are anxious to join the scheme are put off by the late payments because they find themselves in a situation of very tight finances. [14207/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under the EU Regulations governing the Agri-Environment Options Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. This work is ongoing and I expect that payments to participants in the scheme in respect of 2010 will commence in August and that payments in respect of 2011 for AEOS participants will commence in October.

With regard to further applications to join AEOS, it is important to note that the closing date for receipt of applications was Monday, 16 May. Accordingly, the scheme is now closed to new applicants.