Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1071: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans to restore the REP scheme to its original form in view of the situation with many farmers in disadvantaged areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33942/09]

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 which were received up to the time of closure will be processed as applications for 2010. Payments due to REPS farmers for 2009 will be the highest ever and 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 details of the scheme are in the process of being finalised and will require the approval of the European Commission, which has already received an outline of our proposals.