Seán Connick (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputies Sherlock and Creed for their best wishes. I, too, look forward to working with them. I agree with Deputy Sherlock in regard to litter being a difficulty throughout the country. Like him I, too, am working with my colleagues at constituency level, including the local authority, county council and tidy towns committees to address this issue on our roadways.

The Deputy will understand the difficult economic background pertaining to the announcement of this scheme. But for the heavy pressure applied by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Minister for Finance we would not have been able to achieve the introduction of this scheme. We sought Commission approval for the scheme, which was difficult to get through. The figures initially started at approximately €1,400 per farmer. Through the negotiation skills of my colleagues and intervention by the Minister for Finance that figure was increased to a level of €5,000 maximum. We must now justify and account for every penny we spend. This is a much more flexible and simpler scheme to operate. Like Deputy Sherlock I, too, was visited in my office by many farmers last year in regard to the announcement of the finishing of REPS. The introduction of this new scheme is a welcome addition. I believe the feedback to this announcement will be positive. I expect a large number of people will apply for and benefit from it.

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