Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when is he going to introduce an agri-environment options 3 scheme. [7203/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Despite the financial pressures facing my Department I have made provision in 2012 for €243 million under agri-environment schemes. I am also considering the possibility of re-opening AEOS on an amended basis or limited scale in 2012. This decision will be taken in the context of my Department's expenditure ceiling for 2013 as agreed by the Government, and in particular, on how a new scheme might be funded within the reduced funding and resulting pressures on the Vote. I will make an announcement on this matter in due course.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress he has made in the implementation of the €150 per hectare Natura payment which was promised to farmers in agri-environment options scheme 1 and AEOS 2. [7204/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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When AEOS was launched, the intention had been to increase the rate for designated land from the €75 per hectare which was originally announced, to €150 per hectare and my Department had been in discussion with the Commission with a view to obtaining approval for this proposal. However, given the current financial constraints and the overall funding limits which have been introduced in the National Recovery Plan and in order to ensure that as many applicants as possible could be accepted into AEOS II, I decided that the rate for designated land would remain at €75 per hectare.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine since the TAMS was reopened at the end of 2011, the number of farmers that have applied under each scheme so far. [7205/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The numbers of applications received by my Department under the TAMS since their reopening in December 2011 are as follows:-

In the case of the Bioenergy Scheme 2012 which was launched on 8 December 2011, the closing date for receipt of applications was 27 January 2012 and 61 applications had been received by that date.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 170: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the allocations under each tranche for the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme and for all schemes between now and the end of 2013. [7206/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Subject to the availability of funding, the proposed tranches for the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS) up to the end of 2013 are as follows:-

Dairy Equipment Scheme

Rainwater Harvesting Scheme

Sheep Fencing/Handling Scheme

Sow Welfare Scheme

Bioenergy Scheme

The Bioenergy Scheme 2012 was launched on 8 December 2011 with an allocation of €1.6 million. The allocation of funds for the Bioenergy Scheme in 2013 will be a matter for consideration in the context of the 2013 Estimates process.