Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 509: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm when he will announce a scheme as follow up to the agri-environment options scheme 2 to allow the thousands of farmers finishing REP scheme 3 to continue to have some support. [14258/12]

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.