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Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 April 2014

Thursday, 17 April 2014

Ceisteanna (217)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

217. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the agri-environment options scheme 3 will issue to farmers; the reason for the delay in issuing this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18436/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The checks are well under way for AEOS 3 and I anticipate that payments for AEOS 3 in respect of 2013 will commence shortly.

Under the EU Regulations governing all area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check of all applications, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue.

Successive EU audits have made it absolutely clear that compliance with the Regulations must be strictly adhered to and that all administrative checks must be passed and eligibility conditions met before payment issues. As a result, my Department is obliged to ensure that individual payments will not issue until all aspects of a farmer’s application are in order, all outstanding documentation provided and all queries resolved. Queries are being resolved on an ongoing basis and officials in my Department are in contact with the applicants concerned to resolve any outstanding issues.

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