News
AGRI-ENVIRONMENT OPTIONS SCHEME 2011
Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan/Monaghan Brendan Smith has categorically refuted allegations by the Agriculture Minister, Simon Coveney TD, that provision had not been made in the 2011 Budget to provide for the re-opening of the Agri-Environment Options Scheme.
Deputy Smith outlined to the Farmer’s Journal that specific provision had been made to re-open the Agri-Environment Options Scheme in 2011with participation levels capped at 10,000 and maximum payment levels capped at €5000. He stated that specific provision had been made in the Estimate for the Department for this year and funding of €337 million is provided in the Department’s 2011 Estimate for REPS and AEOS which reflects an increase on the 2010 provision of €330 million.
Deputy Smith also stated that it should be noted that the 2011 Estimate provided for bringing forward €32 million for the Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme in 2011 to ensure that the 2010 and 2011 payments could be made under the Estimates provisions for the Department for this year.
Deputy Smith stated that that decision clearly reduces budgetary pressure on the Department next year. He added that these provisions were clearly outlined in the Department’s Statement at Budget time and so it is clearly untrue to suggest that financial provision was not made for the 2011 AEOS Scheme.
He stated that savings to be achieved by the Department in the period 2012-2014 were clearly outlined by the previous Government in the National Recovery Plan published last November and policy options for consideration.
ENDS
