Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 341: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if special consideration will be given to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who wishes to apply for the farmers early retirement scheme. [38556/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Early Retirement Scheme 2007 was suspended for new applications with effect from 15 October 2008. The limiting of the suspension of the Scheme will be considered at the earliest opportunity but with regard to the general budgetary constraints.

Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 342: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is confident that he will secure sufficient funding to protect future REP schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38557/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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In deciding my Department's allocation for 2009, I have chosen to protect the Rural Environment Protection Scheme, including the 17% increase in rates, and to ensure that it can continue to accommodate farmers wishing to join in 2009. This reflects the value I place on a scheme that meets environmental imperatives and consumer demands for environmentally friendly food production. The provision for REPS in 2009 will be increased to €355million. I am committed to the long-term future of REPS as a measure that has brought great benefits not only to farmers but also to the community as a whole.

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 343: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will approve the application of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38600/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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There is no record of an application received in my Department under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme and the Early Retirement Scheme (ERS3) 2007 from the persons concerned.

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 344: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will allow the processing and provision of farm installation aid and early retirement scheme applications which had been lodged with his Department but were not fully processed prior to the announcement in budget 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38601/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Applications under the Early Retirement Scheme (ERS3) 2007 and the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme received in my Department up to and including 14 October 2008 will be processed, and if they are in order payment will be made.

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 345: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the cost of financing the young farmers installation aid scheme and the early retirement scheme for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007; the number of individual applications that were made in these years outlined on a county basis; the number of applications with his Department but not yet approved on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38602/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The cost of financing the Early Retirement Scheme for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 is outlined in Table 1:

Table 2 shows a breakdown by county of applications made under the previous Early Retirement Scheme (2000–2006) and under the current Scheme in the year 2007 (the applications under the current Scheme were in respect of the period from 6 June 2007, when the Scheme came into operation, up to 31 December 2007). This table also shows a breakdown by county of applications made under the current Scheme (made in 2007 and 2008) which have not yet been approved for payment.

In the case of installation aid for young farmers, a summary of the information is set out in the following table. A detailed breakdown on a county basis will be sent to the Deputy shortly.