Written answers
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Department of Agriculture and Food
Rural Environment Protection Scheme
9:00 pm
Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 503: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of applicants in County Galway in REP scheme three and REP scheme four; the number of persons who will complete the REP scheme in 2009, 2010 and 2011; the number of persons who will complete REP scheme four in County Galway; the income loss for each of these years to the applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43103/09]
Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The following are the numbers of REPS contracts in County Galway and the years in which they expire:
| Scheme | Number (approximately) | Last year of Contract | Cost per year (approximately) |
| REPS 3 | 1,253 | 2009 | ⬠7.7 million |
| REPS 3 | 1,057 | 2010 | ⬠6.5 million |
| REPS 3 | 3,147 | 2011 | ⬠19.5 million |
| REPS 4 | 25 | 2012 | ⬠0.1 million |
| REPS 4 | 1,237 | 2013 | ⬠7.6 million |
| REPS 4 | 1,473 | 2014 | ⬠9.1 million |
| REPS 4 | 167 | 2015 | ⬠1 million |
Of the REPS 3 participants listed above, 692 have applied to join REPS 4. It is not possible from the information to hand so say in which years their REPS 3 contract would have finished. As with all agri-environmental schemes, payments in REPS are justified on the basis that they compensate farmers for income lost and additional costs arising from their undertakings. There is also provision for a small "transaction cost". My officials are currently in discussions with the European Commission on a new agri-environmental scheme and it is my intention that farmers leaving REPS will be able to apply for it.
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