John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

REPS 3 was launched in June 2004 and by July 2005 we had exceeded the previous record level of participants in the scheme. There are more than 48,000 farmers in REPS and the numbers are rising steadily. We hope there will be approximately 50,000 farmers in the scheme by the end of the year and I expect further significant growth in 2006. Last year we spent approximately €208 million on REPS and this year we have spent over €240 million. We are likely to spend close to €270 million by the end of the year.

In addition to monetary benefits for farmers, REPS has brought many benefits to the environment, especially in REPS 3 where there is a greater emphasis on biodiversity. Cleaner farmyards, new hedgerows, newly planted trees and nature corridors are visible signs of what REPS has delivered. Other benefits, like cleaner water and better pollution control, are not so visible but are just as important.

The challenge we now face is to build on past successes and bring forward proposals for REPS 4 that will continue to deliver in environmental and economic terms for the years ahead. We need a scheme that will continue to deliver value for money, both for the farmer and for the Irish and EU taxpayer.

REPS 3 was introduced following a consultation process that was open to all stakeholders. The process was generally held to be very successful and the European Commission was particularly complimentary about it. I hope we can achieve the same good results with the consultative process for REPS 4.

There is limited time to carry out this process, however. The Commission has indicated that member states should submit their draft rural development plans by the middle of next year if the approval process is to be finished in time to introduce new schemes in January 2007. To meet this timeframe, the Minister asked stakeholders to let her have their written submissions by 9 December and she intends to convene an open forum early in the new year. It is important that we stick closely to our schedule if we are to have a new scheme available to farmers once the current one has come to an end.

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