Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 400: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers whose REP scheme 3 plans have expired in 2011; the saving to him in respect of these farmers for 2012; his plans to extend the agri-environment options scheme to these farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32743/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Over 23,000 REPS 3 participants will complete their contract in 2011. The majority of these participants received their final annual payment at the end of 2010. Payments under the scheme to these farmers on a full year basis would be of the order of €140m.

The overall level of funding available to the Department in the 2012 Budget will be determined by the Government in the context of the prevailing economic and budgetary situation while having regard to the outcome of the Comprehensive Expenditure Review and the discussions on the 2012 Estimates process. A decision on the future of the Agri Environment Options Scheme will be made following the outcome of this process and I will make an announcement on the situation in due course.