Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason there is a delay for farmers awaiting payments under the agri-environment options scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39055/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under EU Regulations governing the Agri-environment Options Scheme (AEOS) 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 administration check has been completed and payments under AEOS in respect of 2010 commenced in September. My Department is now dealing with applications on which queries and issues arose in the course of the administrative checking process and further payments are issuing on an ongoing basis as queries are resolved. The administrative checks have also been carried out in respect of 2011 and those payments will commence shortly.

I continue to give high priority to the processing and payment of AEOS applications and to the elimination of all unnecessary delays.