Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of REP scheme four plans that have been rejected to date; the loss to the farming community; if he will take measures that will allow these plans to be accepted where the deficiencies are corrected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11988/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The total number of applications for REPS 4 received in 2007 and 2008 was 12,292. As of today, REPS 4 payments have been made to 6,194 applicants or just over 50% of the total. These payments amount to some €20.5 million.

REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007–13 and is subject to different EU Regulations from the preceding versions of REPS. Under REPS 4, all payments are to be made in just two instalments each year. The first payment, of 75%, could be made only when all administrative checks on all 2008 applications for REPS 4 and the Single Payment Scheme were completed. These included checks on areas and on the plan details. My Department's controls have to satisfy stringent EU regulatory and audit requirements.

The first payments for 2008 REPS 4 applications issued in the last week of January 2009 to those whose applications required no correction following the administrative checks. Further payments continue to be made as applications are cleared. As processing of the remaining applications is continuing, it is not possible at this stage to say how many applications will be found to be ineligible or how many can be accepted at a reduced rate of payment for the first year, subject to later adjustment. Letters have begun to issue to farmers whose applications have already been examined and found to be in one or other of those categories and these letters will continue to go out in the coming weeks. My officials are in contact with Teagasc and the Agricultural Consultants' Association, which represents private planners, about the issues that are arising.