Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

The average payment of €4,000 is based on the number of applications processed to date. Approximately two thirds have been processed and, therefore, the payment may vary. People had a menu of options for participation in the scheme. Some people opted to participate under different measures and it was up to the individual to decide which measures he or she wished to participate in. The initial take-up for a scheme is usually not good and people are not as good at maximising the opportunities provided by a new scheme. When people become more familiar with the scheme, they will have the opportunity to draw down the maximum payment. With regard to those who will exit REPS 3 between now and 17 May 2011, in the budget last year the Minister for Finance gave us permission to launch the new agri-environment options scheme, with a budget of €50 million per annum over five years, with a maximum participation of 10,000 farmers. We had in excess of 9,200 applications and it will be possible to accommodate all who meet the criteria of the scheme. Those who might wish to join the scheme in the future will be a matter for the Estimates and the budgetary process, as is usual.

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