Coveney told immediate priority is reintroduction of AEOS 3 scheme

FARMERS exiting the REPS 3 scheme urgently need the reintroduction of the AEOS 3 scheme, according to the IFA.

The IFA’s recently elected rural development chairman Flor McCarthy said the immediate priority for Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney must be to introduce an AEOS 3 scheme over the coming month to support farmers who have finished REPS 3.

Mr McCarthy said: “It is vital that an AEOS 3 scheme, involving the restoration of the maximum payment of €5,000, increasing the Natura payment to €150/ha and allowing up to 10,000 farmers to join the scheme is made available.”