Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Feb 1996

Vol. 462 No. 2

Written Answers. - REP Scheme.

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

243 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he intends to make payment under the REP scheme for extra land either purchased or rented after the first payment has been received under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4401/96]

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

Where a REPS participant buys, rents, leases or inherits extra land then the REPS plan must be revised to take into account the additional land. All lands, including the newly acquired lands, must be farmed in accordance with REPS. There is, however, at present, no additional payment available on the additional lands.

My Department recognised the desirability of facilitating payment on extra lands secured during the period of REPs participation subject to a maximum of 40 hectares. To this end the matter has been raised with the European Commission and is among a number of issues currently being examined by the Commission's STAR Committee. I would be hopeful of a favourable outcome on this matter. When the matter has been finalised any necessary announcement will be made.

Brendan Kenneally

Question:

244 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford under the REP scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4460/96]

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.

John Ellis

Question:

245 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason commonages which include turbary are not being allowed for REP scheme purposes. [4461/96]

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

REPS payments are available on lands owned or leased for a minimum of five years up to a maximum of 40 hectares. Under REPS, as originally devised, commonage lands held in fee simple subject to turbary rights were not regarded as eligible land. As part of the ongoing review of REPS it has now been decided that commonages which include turbary rights can be included in the area on which payment is made. However, REPS planning agencies are required to clearly identify the turbary area on the REPS plan, exclude this area for payment purposes and payment may be made on the applicant's share of the remaining area, subject to the other conditions to the scheme being met.

An announcement to this effect will issue shortly.