merrion street

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, TD, has today announced an extension to the closing date for receipt of applications for pre-planting approval under the 2013 Bioenergy Scheme. The closing date for submission of applications for pre-planting approval is now extended until Friday 2nd November 2012.

Announcing the extension, the Minister said “in order to facilitate potential applicants, advisors and contractors with additional time to consider the suitability of land for planting miscanthus or willow crops under the Scheme, I feel it would be beneficial to extend the deadline for receipt of applications for pre-planting approval until Friday 2nd November 2012”.

Details of the 2013 Bioenergy Scheme and application forms can be obtained from Biofuels Policy Unit, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Kea-Lew Business Park, Mountrath Road, Portlaoise, Co. Laois. Telephone 057-8692231/8692240 or at www.agriculture.gov.ie

Note for Editors

The Bioenergy Scheme 2013 was announced on 1st August 2012. The legal basis for the Bioenergy Scheme is Council regulation (EC) No. 1698/2005, as amended, on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. Eligible costs include ground preparation operations, vegetation management, planting and the purchase of planting stock.