Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 376: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to review the forest environmental payments scheme pilot underway with a view to a full roll out in the years ahead. [18154/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Following a full review and consultation with the sector, the Forest Environmental Payments Scheme (FEPS) has been amended and has been rolled out as an established scheme. The threshold of 8 hectares has been reduced to 5 hectares for small farms (less than 30ha), attracting a €150/ha rate for plantations between 5 and 8 ha, and €200/ha thereafter. At the other end of the scale, a standard rate of €200/ha will apply for all plantations irrespective of the size of the farm on which they are established; before this a sliding scale applied, whereby the FEPS payment reduced progressively in line with the relevant REPS payment.