Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to extend the deadline for applications to the agri environment options scheme to the end of the year due to the uncertainty surrounding the commonage plans and the need for farmers to have ample time to get plans prepared to join the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51572/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Agri-environment Options Scheme (AEOS 111) which I re-opened recently will operate largely on the same basis as in previous years and the same measures and rates of payment will be available. In certain cases, applicants must submit a Sustainable Management Plan prepared by a planner in accordance with the scheme specifications, details of which are on the Department’s website and are available to applicants and planners.

The closing date for applications of 30 November was fixed with a view to allowing applicants adequate time to prepare and submit applications under the scheme and, following the processing of those applications, to allow for the entry of new participants as soon as possible.

I have no plans at present to extend the 30th November 2012 deadline for the receipt of AEOS 111 applications. My objective remains to inform successful applicants of their commencement date in the scheme at the earliest possible date. Any extension to the deadline for the submission of applications could result in a delay in the issuing of approvals and a later commencement date.