Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 1036: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his expenditure on the computerised REP scheme planner; the cost to date; the future for this planner in view of the suspension of REP scheme 4; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38526/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The on-line facility for the preparation of REPS plans, eREPS, has up to now been managed on my Department's behalf by Teagasc and hosting and development work were contracted to Bizmaps, a software company in the private sector. A total of €1,627,407 has been paid to Bizmaps from 2006 to date for this service; €1,062,113 was paid directly to Bizmaps by my Department and €565,294 to Teagasc in respect of the costs incurred. From later this year, the system will be hosted and maintained within my Department.

As some REPS contracts will continue up to 2013, and there is a need in the normal course of events for a number of participants to amend their plans from time to time, the system will continue to be used notwithstanding the fact that REPS is closed to new applications.

My officials are currently in discussions with the European Commission about proposals for a new agri-environmental scheme which I intend to introduce in 2010. When the content of that scheme is determined, my Department will investigate whether aspects of eREPS can be adapted to assist in its operation.