Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 June 2016
485. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will apply a period of grace on the deadline for submission of soil analyses under the agri-environment options scheme or under the basic payment scheme. [17025/16]
View answerAEOS is a voluntary scheme and to remain in the scheme all participants must abide by the terms of their contract.
Soil samples are an integral part of AEOS contracts. The Terms and Conditions state that in the case of AEOS 2 applicants whose contracts commenced in 2011, soil samples must be taken between 1st January 2010 and 31st March 2012. This was subsequently extended to 31st March 2013. AEOS 3 applicants whose contracts commenced in 2013 must have taken soil samples between 1st January 2011 and 31st March 2014.
I do not envisage making any further changes to the timelines set out above. There is no requirement to undertake soil analysis under the Basic Payments Scheme.
