Written answers

Wednesday, 20 January 2010

Department of Agriculture and Food

Grant Payments

9:00 pm

Photo of Ulick BurkeUlick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 300: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of farmers in County Galway that were participants in the REP scheme in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009; the number that transferred to REP scheme four; the number of farmers in County Galway that have lost out due to his decision to prevent transfer to REP scheme four; the financial loss as a consequences of this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2375/10]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The number of farmers in County Galway who received payments in REPS 2 and REPS 3 in the years in question were as follows:

2006 2007 2008 2009

6,571 6,098 5,200 4,052

In 2008 and 2009, 2,726 applications for REPS 4 were received from farmers in County Galway.

The decision to close REPS 4 to new applicants was taken against the background of the situation in the public finance, the budgetary resources available to my Department and the level of expenditure arising from commitments, particularly in future years, from the increase, between 2008 and 2009, from 46,694 to approx 63,000 in the number of REPS participants. All participants already in the scheme will continue to receive payment until their current contracts run their course. In addition, all applications received before the closing date of 15 May 2009 for the 2009 scheme year and those received up to the date of closure of the scheme will be considered for entry into the scheme in accordance with the eligibility requirements.

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