€50m available under scheme for protection of environmental areas

FARMERS can avail of a new €50 million fund geared towards the protection of areas of high environmental value.

A maximum of €5,000 will be paid to each of up to 10,000 participants in the new Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS), with areas such as the Burren in Co Clare being cited as particularly appropriate.

Clare-based Fianna Fáil TD Tony Killeen said that applications from farmers who are members of the Burren Life project would be very welcome.

Mr Killeen said: “Some €1 million will be spent each year for three years to support high environmental value farming in the Burren, which is one of Ireland’s outstanding landscapes and is known worldwide.

This funding comes from unused single payment funds and will provide an important boost to the traditional farming methods employed in the unique karst landscape of the Burren.”

Meanwhile, the Agricultural Consultants Association (ACA) is calling for the May 17 deadline for applications to be extended.

ACA president Pat Minnock said that farmers had found the AEOS application forms difficult to complete and the body is calling for the deadline to be extended to May 31 or later and for a simpler form to be produced.