Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 15: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the level of participation to date in REP scheme 3; if she has satisfied herself with this level of participation; her plans for the future of the REP scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1931/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am encouraged by the current rate of demand for REPS. Numbers have risen steadily since REPS 3 was introduced in June of last year. We have already received some 6,000 applications from farmers who were not already in REPS. A further 8,500 farmers who were in REPS 2 have taken advantage of the special fast-track arrangements for transformation and have switched over to REPS 3. In all, there are now more than 42,500 farmers in REPS, and the demand shows no sign of slackening off.

Spending on REPS in 2004, at €208 million, was the highest since the scheme was introduced in 1994. The provision for REPS in this year's Estimate for my Department is €271 million, which is an increase of 30%. I am confident that it will all be used. It is important for the future of REPS that we do use it. The current programming period ends in 2006. The next round will run for 2007 to 2013. In the negotiations for EU funding for that period, it will be important to be able to show that we have used the funds successfully during this round.

The formulation of new EU regulations for the next programming period is at an advanced stage. The new regulation not only makes specific provision for agri-environment programmes up to 2013 but also, like the current regulation, makes them mandatory for all member states. In discussions on the new regulation, my Department has already pointed to the success of REPS. I am confident that the new regulation, when finalised, will provide a framework for the further evolution of REPS as a scheme delivering substantial benefits both to the environment and to farmers.