Agri-Environment Options Scheme Extension

Thursday, 25 October 2018

Questions (273)

Martin Kenny

Question:

273. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the agri-environment options scheme, AEOS, will be extended; if not, if the GLAS scheme will be reopened for those farmers exiting AEOS in the next twelve months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44245/18]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

There are no plans to extend the the Agri-Environment Options and Natura Schemes (AEOS). The subsequent agri-environment scheme the Green, Low-Carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) opened in three tranches commencing in 2015. It was open to AEOS participants to apply to join GLAS, such applicants were required to exit their existing AEOS contract before a GLAS contract could commence. GLAS is now fully subscribed with the target of 50,000 participants met well ahead of target. There are no plans to re-open this scheme to new applications.

Agri-environment policy is included in the CAP negotiations currently underway and any future scheme will be dependent on the outcome of these negotiations.