Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 May 2010
45 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the agri-environment options scheme plans will commence; the amount of money that will be awarded in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21989/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere has been significant interest in the Scheme since it opened for applications on 30 March 2010. The closing date for receipt of applications was Monday 17 May 2010 and at close of business on that day some 4,400 applications had been submitted to my Department's office at Johnstown Castle Estate in Wexford. However, given the short time frame for submitting applications, and in order to facilitate farmers, applications were also accepted in my Department's local offices. These applications are currently being forwarded to be processed centrally in Wexford. Current indications are that the total number of applications will be close to 8,000, but the actual figure and the potential level of payments cannot be ascertained until all applications have been received and recorded in Wexford. Expenditure under the scheme will depend on the actual number of applicants and the nature of the measures undertaken by them. The maximum annual payment to applicants under the scheme is €5,000.
Under EU Regulations, payments can not be made until all applications received have been subjected to a rigorous administrative check, including an area cross-check with the declarations made under the Single Payment Scheme. It is not possible, at this early stage, to anticipate how long this process will take but my objective is to ensure that it is completed and that payments issue as quickly as possible.
