Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 404: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if payment of €242 per hectare due to REP scheme hill farmers in respect of de-stocking will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16426/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Target lands in REPS, which comprise Special Protection Areas, Special Areas of Conservation, Natural Heritage Areas and commonage, have qualified since 1999, under Measure A of REPS, for a payment of €242 per hectare on the first 40 hectares. This payment no longer comprises an amount in respect of destocking. Last November I secured an agreement from the European Commission which ensures the continued payment of the full €242 per hectare rate, in addition to farmers' Single Payments which are based on the ewe quota they had before destocking began.

The Charter of Rights for Farmers 2005/2007 sets out the timeframes within which applications for payment of REPS grants are to be processed.