Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 May 2010
80 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of farmers that applied for the agri-environment options scheme in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21988/10]
View answerThere has been significant interest in the Scheme since it opened for applications on 30 March 2010. The closing date for receipt of applications was Monday, 17 May 2010 and at close of business on that day some 4,400 applications had been submitted to my Department's office at Johnstown Castle Estate in Wexford. However, given the short time frame for submitting applications, and in order to facilitate farmers, applications were also accepted in my Department's local offices. These applications are currently being forwarded to be processed centrally in Wexford. Current indications are that the total number of applications will be close to 8,000, but the actual figure and the potential level of payments cannot be ascertained until all applications have been received and recorded in Wexford.
