Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers that have been paid agri environmental options scheme 1 and AEOS 2 on a county basis. [7213/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The table that follows details the number of applicants who have received a payment under the Agri Environment Options Scheme 1 for (i) 2010 Scheme year and (ii) the 2011 Scheme year on a county by county basis. A further 529 applicants have either withdrawn or been rejected from the scheme following initial approval into the scheme (not available on a county by county basis).

Checks are ongoing and my Department is dealing with applications on which queries and issues arose in the course of the administrative checking process. Further payments are issuing on an ongoing basis as these queries are resolved.

Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check of all applications, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. This process is under way with a view to commencing payments as soon as possible. In the event of any queries arising from these checks, my Department will be in direct contact with the applicants to have them resolved.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when will all agri environment options scheme payments be made. [7214/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under EU Regulations governing the 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 administration check has been completed in relation to Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) 1 and my Department is now dealing with the discrepancies that have arisen on individual files following this check. I have given the highest priority to the processing and payment of outstanding AEOS payments and to the elimination of all unnecessary delays.

Under AEOS 1, payments in respect of the 2010 Scheme year commenced in August 2010 and are continuing to issue to outstanding applicants on an ongoing basis as outstanding queries are resolved, while payments to in respect of the 2011 year have also commenced.

In relation to AEOS 2, this checking process is under way with a view to commencing payments as soon as possible. In the event of any queries arising from these checks, my Department will be in direct contact with the applicants to have them resolved.