Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 February 2014
537. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of farmers due agri-environment options scheme payments now; the number paid to date; the total allocation for AEOS payments in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6879/14]
View answerAEOS I and II payments in respect of the 2013 Scheme year commenced in November 2013.
Under the EU Regulations governing all 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.
The table below outlines the number of participants currently active in AEOS I and II and the numbers who have passed the administrative checks and received payment in respect of the 2013 Scheme year.
|
- |
Active Participants |
Number of participants who have received 75% payment for 2013 |
Number of participants who have received 25% payment for 2013 |
Number of participants awaiting 75% payment for 2013 |
Number of participants awaiting 25% payment for 2013 |
|
AEOS 1 |
7,600 |
6,724 |
5,916 |
876 |
1684 |
|
AEOS 2 |
5,800 |
5,018 |
3,746 |
782 |
2054 |
In most instances where payments are outstanding there remains an outstanding query on the application. These queries are being resolved on an ongoing basis and officials in my Department have contacted the applicants concerned with the intention of resolving outstanding issues in order to allow payments to issue as soon as possible.
There are 5,981 active participants in the AEOS III Scheme and I expect that payments for this Scheme will commence in March 2014.
The total budget allocated for AEOS payments in 2014 is €61 million.
