James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will overturn the decision to close REPS 4 or at least allow existing participants in REPS 3 to join the scheme in view of the fact that their REP scheme contracts were terminated, particularly in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31938/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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REPS 4 was closed to new applicants in July against the background of the situation in the public finances, the resources available to the Department and the increase, over the past year, from just under 47,000 to some 63,000 in the number of REPS participants. A record 17,000 applications were received up to the closing date of 15 May for 2009, and further applications were received up to the time the Scheme closed. The latter will be processed as applications for 2010. Payments due to REPS farmers for 2009 will be the highest ever. All participants already in REPS will continue to receive annual payments until their current contracts run their course.

I plan to introduce a new agri-environment scheme in 2010 which will reduce compliance costs to participants and which will provide a menu of targeted actions from which farmers may choose. Funding for the new scheme will include the additional modulation funds which I ensured will be retained for the benefit of Irish farmers in the negotiations on the CAP "Health Check". It will also include additional matching Exchequer funding.

The new scheme requires the approval of the European Commission. An outline has already been sent to the Commission as part of a set of proposals for an amended Rural Development Programme following a consultation exercise on the use of the modulation funds. The details of the scheme have yet to be finalised. I invited submissions from stakeholders, the closing date for which was 4 September and the submissions received are now being examined and considered in my Department.