Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 647: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position in relation to the technical discussions that were taking place with the commission in relation to the payment arrangements for REP scheme four contracts commencing in 2008; when a decision will be made in relation to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11979/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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In discussions with my officials, the European Commission have confirmed the new rules for applications and payments under REPS 4. Payments will relate to the period in each calendar year during which a participant is in REPS 4 and will issue in two stages. The first, which will be 75% of the total, will issue when all administrative checks for REPS and the Single Payment Scheme are completed. In practice, this will be in early autumn. The remaining 25% payment will go out when the last of the year's REPS on-farm inspections has taken place. This means that these payments will be processed in December. As all REPS 4 contracts will have an anniversary date of 1 January, my Department will adjust the length of contracts so that the anniversary date will be the next 1 January, and the contract will be valid for a further 5 years from that date.