Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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536. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers due rural environment protection scheme 4 and agri-environment options scheme 3 payments who have been paid to date; the number awaiting payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6878/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under the EU Regulations governing the REP Scheme, the Agri-Environment Options Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. This process has now been completed for 2013 REPS4 payments and 24,972 participants have been paid their 2013 REPS4 payment in full out of a total of 29,235 participants.

There are currently 5,981 active participants in the 2012 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3). Again, the comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. These checks are well under way and I anticipate that payments for the AEOS 3 in respect of 2013 will commence in March.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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537. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of farmers due agri-environment options scheme payments now; the number paid to date; the total allocation for AEOS payments in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6879/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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AEOS I and II payments in respect of the 2013 Scheme year commenced in November 2013.

Under the EU Regulations governing all area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check of all applications, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue.

The table below outlines the number of participants currently active in AEOS I and II and the numbers who have passed the administrative checks and received payment in respect of the 2013 Scheme year.

In most instances where payments are outstanding there remains an outstanding query on the application. These queries are being resolved on an ongoing basis and officials in my Department have contacted the applicants concerned with the intention of resolving outstanding issues in order to allow payments to issue as soon as possible.

There are 5,981 active participants in the AEOS III Scheme and I expect that payments for this Scheme will commence in March 2014.

The total budget allocated for AEOS payments in 2014 is €61 million.