Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 October 2012
495. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the changes that have been made to the agri environment options scheme as announced on 26 September from previous years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42721/12]
View answerDetails of the re-opened Agri-environment Options Scheme (AEOS) which I announced recently with funding of €20m will be available on the Department’s website in the next day or two. The scheme will operate largely on the same basis as in previous years with the same measures and the same payment rates. However, I have also decided to introduce some new provisions. There will be a provision under the new scheme for the Grey Partridge under the Wild Bird Cover action in sites identified by NPWS in West Offaly. In addition, the existing Corncrake Measure will be available in sites in Donegal and Mayo.
The closing date for applications is 30 November and my aim is to ensure that all applications are processed with a view to approving the new participants in the scheme with effect from 1 April 2013.
