Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 489: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on the programme for Government proposal to further promote the benefits of the REP scheme and achieve a participation rate of 70,000 farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28543/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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A new REPS 4 scheme was launched in late 2007 as part of the Rural Development Programme 2007-13. For the first time REPS is open to more intensive farmers and this, together with more attractive payment rates agreed in Partnership, has potential to bring numbers to the targeted level. By the deadline of 15 May, some 11,500 farmers had applied to join REPS 4. There are some 54,000 farmers still participating in the previous schemes, REPS 2 and REPS 3.