Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

463. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the balance of 25% payments of the agri-environment option scheme will issue to farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34161/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Area-based schemes under the Rural Development Programme, 2007-13, are subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications, including cross checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, to be completed before payments can issue. These rigorous procedures, together with on-farm inspections, apply to a number of scheme payments including the Agri-environment Options Scheme (AEOS), and are necessary to ensure that applications meet the scheme conditions and cross-compliance requirements. In line with the governing Regulations, payments issue in two tranches, 75% payment and 25% payment. Payments have been made under both tranches for 2013 and continue to issue on an ongoing basis. Any outstanding payments are largely due to unresolved queries associated with applications and in most instances officials in my Department will have contacted the applicants concerned with the intention of issuing payment as soon as possible.