Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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518. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to reopen the agri-environment options scheme for farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22379/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Despite the challenging budgetary constraints facing my Department, last year I secured an additional €20 million annually to fund a new agri-environment scheme and on foot of this I announced the re-opening of the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS). I decided on a maximum payment of €4,000 per annum for individual applicants to allow for up to 6,000 new participants to be accepted into the scheme. I expect approval letters to issue shortly.

I have no plans at present to re-open the Scheme.