Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 308: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will expedite a REPS 4 application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3954/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007–13 and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before the first payments issue. Payments have issued to those whose applications required no further examination following the administrative checks. However queries arose on a significant number of applications, including that of the person named, in the course of the administrative checks. My Department is continuing to process applications with a view to payment as soon as possible and ,in this context, will be in touch with the applicants where necessary, to resolve outstanding issues.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 309: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his proposals for a new REP scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3959/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland's amended Rural Development Programme, including a new agri-environment scheme, was presented to the EU Rural Development Management Committee in Brussels on 20 January. This followed detailed and protracted discussions with the Commission. The Committee agreed the programme and the Commission will now proceed to take a formal decision to approve it. This procedure is expected to take a number of weeks. The new agri-environment scheme is focused on the priority areas of biodiversity, water management and climate change. It will offer a menu of measures addressing these priorities from which farmers may choose, provided they complement the environmental profile of the holding. Details on the operation of the new scheme are currently being finalised and I intend to launch the scheme once the formal Commission approval has been received.