Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will provide a 12 month extension to the REP scheme two to allow farmers to avail of the REP scheme four without a break in order to protect the environment and farmers incomes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3536/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Last year, I took advantage of the Commission's transitional rules to make special provision for REPS 2 contracts expiring up to 30 November 2006 to be extended for a further year. However this option is no longer available to me. The EU Regulations governing REPS 2 and REPS 3 expired on 31 December 2006. It is now legally impossible to approve or extend contracts under either of those Schemes.

Farmers whose REPS 2 contracts are now expiring have already had two opportunities to transform their undertakings into new five-year contracts in REPS 3. I am doing my best to make sure that REPS 4 will be available for them at the earliest possible date.