Much of €50m allocated to AEOS will not be drawn down this year

MUCH of the €50 million allocated to the new Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) will not be drawn down in 2010, according to the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association.

This is due to the target of 10,000 participants not being met and the likelihood that not all of those qualifying will be eligible for the maximum €5,000 payment, it said.

But the ICSA president Gabriel Gilmartin said the likely failure to meet participation and expenditure targets under the AEOS must not be seen as a reason to reduce environmental funding.