Monaghan IFA Rural Development Chairman Seamus Traynor has called for the
immediate opening of the AEOS scheme.
Speaking following a meeting with the Department of Agriculture in Dublin,
Mr. Traynor said that the commitment given in last year’s December Budget
that 10,000 farmers would be allowed into the AEOS must be honoured.  It is
vital that the scheme is opened up immediately so that farmers have
sufficient time in order to assess the merits of the scheme and to maximise
payment.

On REPS & AEOS payments due to farmers, Mr. Traynor said that it is
disappointing that there are still 12,000 farmers who have not received
their 2010 REPS 4 payment and none of the 9,000 farmers who have applied for
AEOS have received any payment at all.

Mr. Traynor said that all payments must now be speeded up as farmers have
already incurred costs in complying with the agri-environmental plans.

The IFA Rural Development Chairman said that it is essential that €337m
allocated for REPS and AEOS in 2011 is fully spent as these schemes make up
a significant part of farm income on those farms in the agri-environment
scheme.