Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. Baineann an rún seo le scéim atá tábhachtach do fheirmeoirí agus do chúrsaí talmhaíochta go ginearálta. This matter is self-explanatory and I call on the Minister of State to update us on the reopening of the agri-environment options scheme for 2012. When the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, was last in this Chamber he was asked about the potential reopening of the agri-environment options scheme for 2012 and indicated that the scheme would open. We have not heard any update since.

There are approximately 30,000 farmers who would traditionally have been in the rural environment protection scheme, REPS, who are leaving REPS 3 by the end of this year. They will not have the opportunity to go into any new scheme, so it is essential to reopen the agri-environment options scheme. Not only that but the €4,000 payment should be increased to €5,000, with at least 10,000 farmers allowed into the scheme. Oddly enough, last year there was an underspend in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine of approximately €230 million, and the scheme was curtailed even though provision was made in the 2011 budget for 10,000 farmers, with a maximum payment of €5,000. The Minister chose to reduce the payment to €4,000 at the maximum level and the number of eligible farmers to 8,000.

Will the Minister consider the numbers of farmers leaving REPS 3 and bring in the alternative scheme? The scheme I mention is earmarked for farmers coming from disadvantaged land areas, where the potential to farm aggressively is unavailable, with the alternative being to protect the environment and work under this scheme, which is co-funded by Brussels. It should be opened as quickly as possible.

The closing date for the single farm payments every year is 15 May so the Department could open this scheme now and flag it early. There is no point in having a window of opportunity for applications of three or four weeks, as the system will be clogged because REPS planners and advisers would not be able to process the number of applications. If the scheme is to be reopened, it should be based on the outlined criteria and the scope should be widened. There should at least be three months for farmers to apply for the new scheme, taking into account the fact that many farmers, in conjunction with REPS planners, would take that amount of time to prepare and get applications in on time.

I have much praise for the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and the way he is handling the Department. The farmers coming from disadvantaged areas and the west need stimulus from this scheme, which should be opened as quickly as possible. In doing so, many farmers could enter into it.