Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Feb 1996

Vol. 462 No. 2

Written Answers. - REP Scheme.

Brendan Smith

Question:

239 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of applications approved to date under the REP scheme; the number of applications currently awaiting approval; the projected number of additional approvals that will issue during 1996; the total funding provided for this scheme in 1996; whether this funding is sufficient to meet all financial commitments arising from the number of approvals issued to date; whether funding has been provided to meet commitments arising from the entry of new participants into this scheme in 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4176/96]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

To date some 11,500 applications have been approved under the REP scheme with a further 2,400 applications currently awaiting approval. It is estimated that a further 9,400 approximately will be accepted into the scheme in 1996.

The current allocation for the REP scheme for 1996 is £41.56 million. I am keeping the funding of REPS under close review with a view to ensuring that sufficient funds are available to meet the expected demand. I expect that extra funding will become available from changes to the ERAD scheme and there are also other possible sources. I can assure the Deputy that the scheme will be funded adequately.

John Ellis

Question:

240 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the conditions for supplementary measures for the REP scheme applicants for access to lakes and rivers. [4201/96]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

Supplementary measure 5 under REPS provides for additional payments to REPS participants who make their lands available for environmentally friendly leisure activities such as land and hill walking, pony trekking, nature walks, defined areas for leisure at lakes and rivers and access thereto, defined scenic viewing areas and access thereto, access to monuments and historic sites and any other activity deemed to be environmentally friendly. This supplementary measure is voluntary and in practice will not be available to all REPS participants. The measure is designed to facilitate public access for tourist and leisure pursuits in areas which are suited to those pursuits. The measure will not apply where a right of way already exists.

The measure is available to farmers participating in REPS who enter legally binding agreements with a local development organisation or comparable group and follow the conditions which are set out in my Department's agri-environmental specifications. A copy of the specifications can be made available to the Deputy if he so requires.

Brian Cowen

Question:

241 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when the second payment of the REP scheme due since December 1995 will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly. [4244/96]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

An application for a second payment under REPS has been received in the local office of my Department from the person concerned.

Under revised control and monitoring measures implemented by my Department, all participants must now certify that they have farmed in accordance with their plans and that they kept specified records. Additionally, their REPS planners must now certify that the plans submitted on behalf of their clients comply with the scheme and that the participants kept appropriate records. Until such certification is received no second year payment can be made.

Officials of my Department are in contact with participants and planners with a view to having the necessary certification supplied in cases such as this where second year payments are now due.