Grant Payments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 February 2012

Wednesday, 8 February 2012

Questions (175, 176)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

176 Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers that have been paid agri environmental options scheme 1 and AEOS 2 on a county basis. [7213/12]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney)

The table that follows details the number of applicants who have received a payment under the Agri Environment Options Scheme 1 for (i) the 2010 Scheme year and (ii) the 2011 Scheme year on a county by county basis. A further 529 applicants have either withdrawn or been rejected from the scheme following initial approval into the scheme (not available on a county by county basis).

County	Applicants Paid 2010	Applications Paid 2011
Carlow	86	40
Cavan	189	83
Clare	318	150
Cork	371	150
Donegal	543	259
Dublin	11	4
Galway	664	304
Kerry	255	132
Kildare	70	25
Kilkenny	231	75
Laois	138	39
Leitrim	353	153
Limerick	213	70
Longford	85	35
Louth	45	19
Mayo	698	317
Meath	149	56
Monaghan	214	86
Offaly	111	49
Roscommon	337	159
Sligo	254	128
Tipperary	320	134
Waterford	110	31
Westmeath	215	102
Wexford	127	56
Wicklow	81	27
Total	6,188	2,683

Checks are ongoing and my Department is dealing with applications on which queries and issues arose in the course of the administrative checking process. Further payments are issuing on an ongoing basis as these queries are resolved.

Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other 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. This process is under way with a view to commencing payments as soon as possible. In the event of any queries arising from these checks, my Department will be in direct contact with the applicants to have them resolved.

Michael Moynihan

Question:

177 Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when will all agri environment options scheme payments be made. [7214/12]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney)

Under EU Regulations governing the 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 administration check has been completed in relation to Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) 1 and my Department is now dealing with the discrepancies that have arisen on individual files following this check. I have given the highest priority to the processing and payment of outstanding AEOS payments and to the elimination of all unnecessary delays.

Under AEOS 1, payments in respect of the 2010 Scheme year commenced in August 2010 and are continuing to issue to outstanding applicants on an ongoing basis as outstanding queries are resolved, while payments in respect of the 2011 year have also commenced.

In relation to AEOS 2, this checking process is under way with a view to commencing payments as soon as possible. In the event of any queries arising from these checks, my Department will be in direct contact with the applicants to have them resolved.