Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 650: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason some REP scheme four payments which were submitted in 2007 can be paid while others submitted in December, 2007 are being told that under the new regime they can not be paid until ongoing negotiations with the EU Commission have been resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12043/08]

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.

Farmers who submitted valid applications in December 2007 will start their REPS 4 contracts on 1 January 2008. They will receive 75% of a full year's REPS payment when all administrative checks for REPS and the 2008 Single Payment Scheme are completed. The remaining 25% payment will go out when the last of the year's REPS on-farm inspections has taken place.

To be eligible for their REPS payment in 2008, these farmers must also submit their 2008 Single Payment application by 15 May 2008.