John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she has satisfied herself with the progress under REPS 3. [26170/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am very pleased with the level of demand for REPS since the introduction of REPS 3 last year. During the summer we broke the previous record for participation and we now have over 47,000 farmers in the scheme. Total spending on REPS amounted to €208 million in 2004. Expenditure this year, with three months still to go, has already almost matched that. I am hopeful that we will have close to 50,000 farmers in REPS by the end of the year, which will account for this year's voted provision of €271 million.

I would urge all farmers who are not already in REPS to consider it seriously. It offers real benefits not only to them but also to the environment and society in general.