Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 522: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive a outstanding payment under the REP scheme. [15256/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named commenced REPS 4 in December 2007 and has received full payment in respect of years 1 to 3.

A 75 % payment in respect of year 4 was issued on 31 December 2010. Payment of the final 25% cannot be made until outstanding checks are finalised and compliance with the scheme conditions has been fully established. Payment will issue at the earliest possible date once all checks have been completed.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 523: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the results of a appeal on a grassland sheep scheme application will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15258/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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An application under the 2010 Grassland Sheep Scheme was received from the person named on the 12 May 2010 and was fully processed. In accordance with the provisions of the Scheme, the payment, which issued on 1 February 2011, was based on the original Sheep Census return received from the person named, which indicated that the person named had twenty seven breeding ewes. An appeal was received in respect of the numbers of breeding ewes on the holding. This appeal is currently under consideration and the person named will be notified directly of the outcome of the appeal.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 524: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the total amount of envisaged savings from cuts to agri-environment options scheme payments for disadvantaged areas and in designated areas in 2011 and in 2012; and if in view of the lower then forecasted take up of the AEOS scheme for 2011 he will re-examine the decision. [15298/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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There are no cuts in Agri-Environment Option Scheme (AEOS) payments to farmers in disadvantaged area or designated areas in 2011 or 2012.

At the time of the launch of AEOS in 2010, a commitment was made to seek Commission approval for a number of amendments to the scheme, including an increase in the rate of payment for Natura land from €75/ha, which was announced for the scheme, to €150/ha. The Department sought the increase and was in negotiations with the Commission on this issue.

On 6 April 201, I announced the opening of AEOS for receipt of applications in 2011 with an overall funding allocation of €25 million per annum and a maximum payment to farmers of €4,000 per annum. The funding for the scheme had to be found within the expenditure ceilings for my Department as set out in the National Recovery Plan, 2011-2014 and I was faced with very difficult choices in deciding between competing priorities in the allocation funds to AEOS and on the terms and conditions of the scheme. In the circumstances and in order to maximise the number of applicants who could be accommodated in the scheme, I decided that the rate of payment for Natura or designated land would be €75/ha.

The AEOS application received are being evaluated at present and the numbers of participants that can be accepted and the overall cost of the scheme in 2011 and subsequent years have yet to be determined. Irrespective of the final outcome in relation to the 2011 applications, the budgetary constraints and pressures remain and, in aggregate terms, the demands will continue to exceed the funds available. Accordingly, the question of savings on AEOS does not arise. Nevertheless, I am conducting an extensive review of all expenditure by my Department and once this is completed, I will review issues associated with AEOS, including the matter of the payments to farmers with designated land.