Vol. 449 No. 3
6 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he intends to establish a monitoring committee for schemes such as REPS within his Department; the organisations which will be represented on such a committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3510/95]
43 Dr. Moffatt asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the present number nationally who have applied for the REPs scheme; the reason for the low level of applications; and the steps, if any, he will take to ensure that the full potential benefit of the REPs scheme to Ireland is realised. [3489/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 43 together.
So far, more than 1,600 completed plans for REPS have been received in my Department. I am aware that many thousands have plans in preparation and I am happy with the progress of the scheme to date. I am however establishing a consultative committee to provide feedback on the operation of REPS and advise on possible improvements. The committee will include representatives of farming organisations, environmental groups and State bodies.
The Minister of State claims he is happy with the progress of the scheme; he must be the only person in the country who is. When can we expect the huge backlog of applications under the control of the farmyard pollution scheme and the dairy scheme to be eliminated?
Questions have been tabled in that respect.
In connection with that subject matter, we should await the reply.
In regard to the general progress of the REPS, I agree with the Deputy that there has been a sluggish response. However, due to the availability of public information and the work of Teagasc and the Department in promoting the REPS, there has been a pick-up in the past few weeks. Much more public information and confidence building will have to be put in place to ensure maximum takeup. There is £230 million available for farmers between now and 1997 and it is important they take up as much of this money as possible because it benefits rural economy. I will ensure there is as much take-up as possible and I will promote the scheme with other representatives, including the Deputy. We must convince people that there is nothing to be afraid of in this scheme. It is the way farming will have to go in the future. It is an environmentally friendly scheme and has the right philosophy. We must back it and do everything possible to ensure its popularity among farmers.
Is the Minister aware that much of the problem with the take-up of the REPS is because lack of staff in the FDS offices, particularly in the south-east of the country? Has he any plans to augment staff in such offices?
To date there are approximately 280 staff in Teagasc who are engaged in drawing up the plans. There are an additional 180 planners who, in a private capacity, can also submit plans. The problem is not with the service but with the reluctance of people initially to join the scheme. As time progresses I am sure people will get an adequate service and that will no longer be a reason for any delay in the scheme. I will keep in contact with the Deputy on this matter but, with the involvement of private planners, I am confident that applications will be progressed as quickly as possible.
I should have called Deputy Moffat earlier whose Question No. 43 refers.
Has the Minister any plans to publicise information concerning the advantages to farmers of the scheme? In many regions farmers are not aware of the scheme and how it could be of benefit to them.
I agree with the Deputy. Last Monday week I attended a public meeting on the scheme in Kerry and following that there was a major take-up of the scheme. I will certainly go to Mayo any time the Deputy wishes to promote the scheme.
He is a very vigorous Minister of State.
He does not stray too far from home.
I agree with the Deputy that more public information is needed to convince people to take up the scheme. Thousands of farmers will qualify but because of some negative publicity, concerns have been raised about it and I want to convince people that those concerns are groundless. If farmers have the proper storage facilities, they will qualify for the scheme.
The Minister must admit the the REPS has been an abysmal failure so far as is evidenced from the number of completed plans — only 1,600 — of which he has informed the House. That is the case even though it is quite some time since the scheme and all its details were originally announced. Has the Minister's Department carried out a serious review of the reason so few farmers have taken up the scheme? Is he aware that many farmers regard the grant levels available under the scheme as barely sufficient to cover their costs? There is no attraction for them in participating in the scheme because of the low level of cash benefit arising from the way it is structured. Is it proposed to seriously examine the overall scheme with a view to structuring it in a more attractive way to farmers?
For that reason I am suggesting setting up a consultative committee. I agree with the Deputy that there may be technical barriers prohibiting farmers taking up the scheme on a large scale. I have been in the Department for approximately six weeks but in that time there has been an increased interest in the scheme and I am doing my best to promote it. It is a new concept——
It has been in place for a year now.
No, it has been in place since last July.
People have been aware of it for the past year.
It takes time for farmers to gain confidence in any scheme. I believe there is now a major interest in the scheme although more public information is required. I am convinced, however, that there will be a major take-up.
Will the Minister make any changes?
Following the establishment of the consultative committee, which will include representatives of all interested bodies, I hope we can identify any problems and try to address them. Officials in the Department are prepared to make changes, if desired, to make the scheme more farmer friendly.
With regard to the Minister's view that there is a need to publicise the scheme more widely, will he consider sending farmers details on the scheme which is the case with headage and suckler schemes — on an individual basis, particularly in view of the environmental benefits of a major uptake in the scheme? The scheme was intended to subvent farm income but many people are concerned that this would be regarded as a taxable income, unlike headage or premium payments.
I agree with the Deputy that we need more public education.The Department produces an excellent video on the scheme and I suggest that should be distributed more widely. There has also been a suggestion of a further video.
Very high-tech.
We will certainly consider ways of making information available to farmers and I take the Deputy's point in this regard.
I am pleased the Minister has acknowledged the 180 private planners but what is their status? Is it not true that when they submit a plan it must be examined again in detail by Teagasc which creates an enormous delay? Will the Minister upgrade the status of professional private planners? That would ensure there would be no delays in the scheme and would also help to promote it.
Obviously there would have to be liaison between the planners and Teagasc. That is another reason the consultative committee will be important.
Is the Minister happy there?
I have not received any information to the contrary but now that the Deputy has raised the issue I will take it up with Teagasc.
The Minister of State should talk to his colleague.
This is my responsibility, not that of my colleague.
The Minister of State should mark out his own patch.
A ringed fence.
Will the Minister consider the matter of slurry storage? In the northern part of the country we require approximately 30 per cent more capacity for the winter storage of slurry than in the south. We are not compensated in any way through grant aid for the additional storage capacity required. I have raised this matter many times before and I ask the Minister to consider the matter in the interests of equity.
The Deputy is raising a rather specific matter worthy of a separate question but if the Minister of State wishes to intervene——
No, it is related to the REP scheme.
I would prefer the Deputy to put down a question on the subject.
A question has been tabled on this matter. The Deputy's question is fair. This is a crucial aspect of REPS and incentives will be available for farmers. If the scheme is over-subscribed consideration will be given to providing further funding when the midterm review of structural funding takes place. There will be difficulties for some people and they must be addressed.
