Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 652: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the compensation available to farmers, who were required to destock an area (details supplied) in Connemara, for the years 2012 and 2013 who were in REP scheme and have now left it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36201/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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A number of farmers in the area concerned are in receipt of payment from my Department under Rural Environment Protection Scheme and the Agri-environment Options Scheme (AEOS). I am actively considering the possibility of re-opening AEOS to allow for the submission of new applications this year either on an amended basis from the existing scheme and/or on a limited scale. However, there are strict budgetary constraints in place and, as a result, the management of the limited resources represents a very challenging situation involving difficult choices. 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.