Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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844. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce a new scheme to replace the agri-environment options scheme, AEOS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1603/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) opened in three tranches commencing in 2015 following the closure of the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS). It was open to AEOS participants to apply to join GLAS, such applicants were required to exit their existing AEOS contract before a GLAS contract could commence. GLAS is now fully subscribed with the target of 50,000 participants met well ahead of target. There are no plans to re-open the GLAS scheme to new applications.

Agri-environment policy is included in the CAP reform negotiations currently under way and any future schemes will be dependent on the outcome of these negotiations.