Jim Glennon (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will report on prospects for REP scheme 3 in 2005. [6874/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Up to last Friday, 25 February, over 17,000 applications have been received for REPS 3 since its introduction in June 2004. With some 27,000 farmers in REPS 2 this brings the overall participation level in REPS to approximately 44,000.

The level of applications received under REPS 3 compares very favourably with any similar time period since REPS began in 1994 and is very encouraging. I expect participation levels to surpass the previous peak of 45,500 by the middle of this year. My Department's vote for 2005 includes €271 million for REPS which represents an increase of 30% on the 2004 outturn and will, I believe, be sufficient to accommodate demand.