Farmers will be paid their final AEOS payments next month, the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney has confirmed.

He said under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue.

The cross-checks for the 2015 AEOS scheme year can only take place following the finalisation of the BPS applications for 2015 and the issuing of BPS payments, which will commence this week.

“I anticipate that payments for the 2015 scheme year will then commence towards the end of November, for all three AEOS schemes,” he said responding to questioning from Fianna Fail’s, Eamon O’Cuiv.

Area-based schemes under the Rural Development Programme 2007-13 are subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, to be completed before payments can issue.

These rigorous procedures, together with on-farm inspections, apply to a number of scheme payments including the Agri-environment Options Scheme (AEOS) and are necessary to ensure that applications meet the scheme conditions and cross-compliance requirements.

Over 25,000 still waiting on Disadvantaged Area Payments

Over 25,000 farmers are still waiting on their Areas of Natural Constraint payment, according to latest figures from the Department of Agriculture.

Payments under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme which repealed the Disadvantaged Area Scheme commenced, on schedule, on September 23, 2015.

Responding to questioning from Eamon O Cuiv on the payment schedule, the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney payments worth €156m have issued nationally to some 73,813 applicants. The total budget for the scheme is €195m with over 100,000 farmers said to be eligible.

The Minister said payment will continue to issue on a twice weekly basis, as individual cases are confirmed eligible.