Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 October 2012
535. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for developing new schemes to support small farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44667/12]
View answerRecently I announced the re-opening of the Agri-Environmental Options Scheme, AEOS, to new entrants. I am providing €20 million for the AEOS scheme which will open shortly for applications. The scheme will build on the success of both the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) and both AEOS 1 and 2 in delivering an annual income to farmers in return for farming to high environmental standards. A maximum payment of €4,000 per annum will apply to individual applicants under the re-opened scheme. As the average payments in the past have been lower than the maximum, I am confident that up to 6,000 new participants can be accepted into the scheme.
I received EU approval for the advance payment of the 2012 Single Farm Payment. Commencement of the payments begins today and will represent the early payment of over €500 million to farmers. I also fully appreciate the value and importance of the other scheme payments to farmers and I remain committed to ensuring that the maximum numbers are paid at the earliest possible date, mindful, of course, of the over-riding necessity to ensure compliance with the governing EU requirements. Payments worth some €167 million under the Disadvantaged Area Scheme have been made since 26th September last when payment began. This funding will provide a boost to the rural economy and will benefit all areas of the country. It is too early to estimate at this stage the level of total payments which will be made under this scheme in 2012 because there is an issue to do with qualification criteria which is working through the system. REPS payments are up to date. A total of €64 million has been paid out to-date and I envisage that by the end of 2012 a further €121 million will be spent. AEOS payments are well advanced and continue to issue as quickly as possible. To date €23 million has been paid and I expect that a further €34 million will be paid out before the end of 2012. My intention is to ensure that payments in respect of 2012 are made on the earliest possible date.
I am not in a position to give assurances with regard to any other schemes for next year because that is a budget debate and I cannot make early budget promises. However, I am very conscious of the importance of schemes for farmers' incomes and will try to protect them as best I can.
