Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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436. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the date of the autumn planting financial approval under the afforestation scheme has been changes from 31 January to 31 December, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this change will impact negatively on farmers participating in the disadvantaged area scheme, if he will extend the date back to 31 January for those in the DAS scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44264/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Autumn planting for 2013 was opened on 24 September 2013 with a completion date this year of 31 December 2013. The invitation to apply for financial approval was limited to those owners who are ready to plant within 6 weeks from 4 October 2013 i.e. by 15 November 2013 with completion by 31 December 2013. It was matter for landowners to decide if this timescale suited their individual circumstances having regard, inter alia, to the qualifying conditions for other Departmental Schemes. If it does not suit their individual circumstances to plant their land before the end of this year they may apply again for financial approval as soon as they are ready to plant.