Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Dillon for his presentation. He said there are 870 new applicants and that 500 of those are brand new. Can it be presumed that the other 370 are people who were in the scheme but went out of it and came back in again at some point? The Department is looking at 1,600 altogether so that means there are 720 existing participants. Can Mr. Dillon clarify how long it will be before the existing farmers who will enter the scheme this year are fully converted to organic production? From what they are saying, I understand that many of the smaller farmers are not comfortable remaining in the scheme. I have discussed the issue with Mr. Dillon and with Ms Furlong previously.

If many of them are lost to the scheme, is there a risk of a trough over the two-year period starting now until it goes fully organic in two years? While the scheme has higher rates per hectare, double funding was possible under REPS at one time, something Mr. Dillon will address. Under new EU rules that is not allowed at the moment. Smaller farmers who farmed ten, 15 or 18 ha had problems.

As well as farmers, does the Department fund the independent groups on which the witnesses said they would not comment? They are Department-approved, but there seem to be problems in terms of what they are charging. Does the Department contribute towards them and, if so, how much does it give?

We know there are 760 farmers under the old scheme, with a manual payment system. I understand the 870 new farmers coming into the scheme will be on a database or a new modified system whereby a button can be pressed and payments sent to them. Will those on the manual system remain there? As the witnesses alluded to, there were major problems last year. Can anyone guarantee that the farmers concerned will be paid by Christmas? There is a lot of fear about the scheme.

The organic groups to which I have spoken raised issues with me. This may not be the place to discuss them, but Senator O'Brien also spoke about the issue. We discussed areas such as Connemara, the hills in Mayo, Wicklow, places where there are mountain lamb and areas which would not be fertilised. Can we get clearance from the EU to classify such areas as organic? One would not spread fertiliser on the top of a mountain. Such a scheme would probably involve sheep rather than cattle. Areas such as Donegal and Kerry could be included. Many areas in Ireland are left to themselves, fertilisers are not being pumped into them and they are not being tampered with. The issue arose during a previous meeting and it is worth discussing.