Applications for the Agri-Environment Options Scheme were received up to the deadline of 17 May both at my Department's office at Johnstown Castle in County Wexford, from where the scheme is administered, and, in order to facilitate farmers, at local offices throughout the country. The local offices are in the process of sending the applications they received to Johnstown Castle. As not all applications have yet reached Johnstown Castle, it is not possible to say exactly how many farmers have applied for the scheme. However it appears that the total number will be in the region of eight thousand.