Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 June 2021
372. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there was any penalty or claw back of moneys, grant or scheme payments to farmers who were in AEOS who decided to convert a part of their farm to forestry during the duration of their AEOS plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35156/21]
View answerThe Terms and Conditions of the AEOS 1 Scheme stated that where all or part of an undertaking was not continued for a minimum period of five years, all or part of the aid paid in respect of the undertaking would be re-imbursed. The re-imbursement of aid already paid was not required in respect of lands afforested under Council Regulation (EC) No. 1698/2005. However, where land was afforested during the AEOS recording year a proportionate reimbursement would apply for the part of the AEOS year that had not been completed.
The Terms and Conditions of the AEOS 2 and AEOS 3 Schemes stated that where all or part of an action was not continued for the duration of contract, all or part of the aid paid in respect of the action would be reimbursed. The re-imbursement of aid was not required in respect of lands afforested under Council Regulation (EC) No. 1698/2005. There was no similar regulatory provision available in respect of the subsequent agri-environment, climate measure (GLAS).
