Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

No one's income from REPS has been affected by the decisions announced in July. This relates to 2010 and people exiting the scheme in 2009. The highest level of payment under the scheme will be this year.

All Members will have received representations from individual farmers about the thorough, detailed and demanding inspection process to ensure that the applicant meets the scheme's criteria and standards. One benefit of the new scheme will be that farmers will not need to put in a whole-farm plan. Many farmers had to pay out €1,500 to put in a particular plan but this money can now be saved. The whole-farm undertaking has been a demanding process both for the farmer complying with every single criteria and the Department as the paying agency to ensure that it does not run foul of any Commission audits.

We want to introduce a good agri-environment measure to succeed REPS 3 for those who will exit it and be the priority category. People will be able to choose from a large number of measures.

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