Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)

If the original REPS plan was an agri-environment measure, why is it necessary to do away with the scheme and reintroduce an agri-environment measure which will have the same aims? Why did the Minister not refer to biodiversity? It will be argued the scheme was used as a supplementary income measure in some cases. The scheme's closure will result in more applicants for farm assist, which is already happening in some areas. Considering the biodiversity measures already contained under the existing scheme and its success, it seems illogical that a new scheme needs to be introduced when the old scheme could be continued.

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