Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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455. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for a new AEOS scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9141/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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There are no plans to reintroduce the Agri-Environment Options and Natura Schemes (AEOS). The subsequent agri-environment scheme, the Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS), opened in three tranches commencing in 2015. 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 approved participants met well ahead of target. There are no plans to re-open this 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.