Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 209: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is hopeful that he can achieve an improvement in the agri environment options 3 scheme having particular regard to the extent to which the farming community must continue to rely on such a scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34289/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the importance of agri environment payments to the agriculture sector and am actively considering the possibility of re-opening the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) to allow for the submission of applications either on an amended basis from the existing scheme and/or on a limited scale, including the possibility of re-opening for applications later in the year. The full year cost of any new scheme will have to be met in 2013 and any decision to re-open AEOS will be taken in the context of consideration of the resources available and the need to remain within the agreed expenditure ceiling for my Department in 2013. I will make an announcement as soon as I have reached a decision on the situation.