Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers in special areas of conservation designated lands have any priority in accessing the agri-environmental options scheme; if so, the weighting that SAC status is given in assessing applicants; in view of the restrictions placed on farm activities in SAC designated lands and the high degree of investment that farmers had to make to comply with REP scheme criteria in the past, if he will consider giving a higher priority to those farmers who farm SAC lands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47860/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The priorities for selecting applications for AEOS 3 are set out in the Scheme Terms and Conditions. Privately Owned Natura land where applicants have a minimum of 0.5 hectares of utilisable agricultural area of either Special Protection Areas or Special Areas of Conservation are ranked first in order of priority. In the event that the number of applicants in this category exceeds the funding available priority will be given to those with the largest utilisable agricultural Natura area.

Priority is then given to Commonage Natura land where applicants have a minimum of 0.5 hectares of utilisable agricultural commonage area. Similarly, in the event that the number of applicants in this category exceeds the funding available priority will be given to those with the largest utilisable agricultural commonage Natura area.