AEOS payments to be issued into bank accounts from next week

Payments in the agri-environmental scheme known as AEOS 3 are to be issued directly to farmers’ bank accounts from next week, Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney announced yesterday.

Some 6,000 farmers were approved into the scheme, with a contract commencement date of May 1, 2013. Under European Union rules, detailed administrative checks had to be completed before the first payments could be issued.

Payments will issue in two tranches, a first installment of 75% of the amount due, followed by the remainder.

Mr Coveney said he had given instructions to make payment immediately of the initial 75% payment for 2013 to all farmers whose applications have been cleared at this stage.

A full year’s payment under AEOS 3 will be about €20m. Following completion of the detailed administrative checks, most claims are ready for payment.

“Any remaining issues are being dealt with systematically, and payments will continue on an ongoing basis after the initial payment run as these cases are resolved,” Mr Coveney said.

He asked farmers to respond immediately to any requests for further information from the department in order that any outstanding applications can be cleared for payment as quickly as possible.