Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 308: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of persons who received payments under all REP scheme categories in County Mayo for 2007, 2008 and 2009; the amount paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2571/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The number of farmers in County Mayo who received REPS payments in the years in question, and the total amounts paid, were as follows:

2007 2008 2009

Participants 5,620 5,208 5,818 Amount paid €33.6m €31.7m €31.9m

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 309: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the numbers of persons eligible for REP scheme payment in County Mayo for 2010; the projected spend under REP scheme three and REP scheme four for 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2572/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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There are 5,675 farmers in Mayo participating in REPS. The value of REPS payments to these farmers in 2010 is approximately €18 million in REPS 3 and €17 million in REPS 4.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 310: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason he denied access to REP scheme four for farmers for 2010; the numbers of farmers who were denied in County Mayo for 2010; his projected spend on an alternative to REP scheme four; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2573/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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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. There are currently 2,923 participants in REPS 4 in County Mayo.

I hope to secure formal approval of the European Commission for a new agri-environment scheme very shortly. It is not possible, at this stage, to forecast the level of expenditure under the new scheme. The scheme will operate on the basis of a five year contract period for participants and expenditure will depend on the number of applicants, the nature of the environmental measures which they undertake and, ultimately, the resources provided to the Department for the scheme in the annual Estimates process.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 311: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a REP scheme four payment will be awarded in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2576/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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An issue has arisen during the processing of the REPS 4 application from the person named. Processing of the application cannot be completed until this has been resolved. My officials will be in contact with him shortly.

Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive their full REP scheme four payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2578/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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An issue has arisen during the processing of the REPS 4 application from the person named. Processing of the application cannot be completed until this has been resolved. My officials will be in contact with him shortly.