Vol. 481 No. 1
20 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps, is any, he is taking to ensure the extension of the REP scheme payment system for a further period beyond 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15507/97]
The Government's policy is, as set out in its Action Programme for the Millennium, to have the REP scheme extended for a further ten years. Officials in my Department are in discussion with the European Commission on our proposal to extend REPS. Indications are they will receive favourable consideration as they have a positive environmental impact. In the context of the Santer proposals REPS will provide a ready vehicle to facilitate the implementation of environmental measures in Ireland and will be an appropriate channel for Community funding in future years.
Is it intended to extend the time period involved? The contract between the farmer and the Department is for five or six years. Is it envisaged by the European authorities that after the year 2000 the contract will be for a ten year period? The protection of the rural environment is so important that when farmers enter into such a contract they should know their plan will be implemented over a ten year period and that they will receive the relevant grants?
It is the intention to have the period extended to ten years giving rise to a 15 year period overall. It would be for a period of 15 years because it makes sense that if one does environmental work for five years, to take away the payments that kept that environmentally friendly attitude and work in place would be a waste of time. It must be on the basis that people will be in this plan for 15 years.
I welcome the Minister of State's intention to extend the plan. As Deputy Connaughton said, many have joined this scheme and it is important they be given an indication of the length of time it involves.
One problem is that there is sometimes a delay in payments to those who have secured additional acreage since their original application. Can the Minister of State ensure that the Department issues a directive on this issue? I agree with the Minister of State that this is important for the environmental sustainability of agriculture. Given that the first step has been taken, will the Minister take the second step and bring back the control of farmyard pollution scheme?
I will take up the matter of extra acreage with the Department. Regarding the extension of the REP scheme, there are conditions in that scheme that are sometimes ignored by planners. They seem to take an á la carte approach to the effect that without fertiliser and too much phosphate, the situation is fine. That must stop and planners who advise farmers badly in this way, leading perhaps to total loss of REPS payments, will be severely dealt with.
The other issue raised by the Deputy is one for the future and it would have every support in the Department.
Will the Minister give an update on the Department's proposals on payments to farmers approved under REPS when some of their lands are designated as national heritage areas? Will the Department honour the agreement made by the farming organisations and the Department earlier this year or will the Government renege on the agreement on the levels of payment per acre?
There are 130,000 farmers in the REP scheme, which is about 18 per cent of the national total. The agreements that were made earlier this year concern the rate of pay determined by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. It is a separate area payment. I am sure that any agreements that were made will be kept, although I am unsure of exactly what those arrangements were. All payments under the REP scheme will be made and extended with the Commission's permission.
REPS has been the most successful scheme the Department has brought in for many years, particularly in the west where many farmers have entered it. One ongoing problem, which I raised with the previous Minister, is in relation to leased commonage. Every reply one gets on this matter states that it is being taken up with the EU Commission. Some applicants have not received one payment, although they have done nothing wrong. That must be dealt with as quickly as possible in Europe. Does the Minister of State see REPS becoming compulsory in the near future?
I appreciate the Deputy's position as I have the same problem in my area in relation to commonage. European regulations demand the ownership or title of rights to those lands and this is a difficult issue. Those affected have my full sympathy and that of Department officials and the Minister. We are trying to sort out the problem as quickly as possible, though it affected the previous Government also, which shows it is not easy to solve. Everyone involved is trying to solve the problem on behalf of those in commonage areas.
Regarding the Deputy's second question, compulsory tillage has been gone for many years and I do not see REPS being made compulsory.
In view of the fact that there are 30,000 approved applicants in the REP scheme and projected numbers for the end of the scheme are 40,000, is the Minister of State confident that, with two and a half years left to run, there is sufficient finance available in the programme to ensure that all those applicants will be approved and paid?
That is like asking me who will win the lottery next week.
It is not.
I do not know how many applicants there will be. I am disappointed, for instance, with the level of applications from Wicklow which are far below the national average. The average stands at approximately 18 per cent in each county. If the number of applicants reaches 40,000 — something we would be delighted to see — I am sure the European Commission and Commissioner Fischler in particular, as someone who is environmentally conscious and oriented, would be happy to extend the scheme in the area of finances.
It is important that some commitment be given. We do not want a repeat of the farm installation scheme where people who are now prepared for REPS are unable to enter in a year's time because of accelerated numbers entering.
Will the Deputy put a question to the Minister of State please?
Will the Minister of State give a commitment that all applicants will be approved and paid before 1999?
I cannot make commitments when I do not know what will happen. I do not know if there will be a further 10,000 applicants. I would like to see a further 10,000 people or more availing of the scheme in a ten year period. It is a proper activity for us and one which is particularly suited to smaller and medium sized farmers. The Deputy can rest assured that this is an area in which we will not be found wanting. We are trying to encourage more applicants and will do everything we can to increase funds.
Deputy Creed asked about the commitment which was given on the increased payment for the national heritage areas and the special areas of conservation. The Minister of State managed to side-step the question by saying it was a matter for the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands and, technically speaking, he is correct. However, in the last Administration — and I assume the Minister's is no different — there was a great deal of consultation between the two Departments. As the Department of Agriculture and Food pays the initial tranche of this money, can I take it that farmers who have portions of land within the NHAs or the SACs will receive the payment promised to them before the general election? They will not care which Department pays the money but, by and large, they will expect the Department of Agriculture and Food to be batting for them.
If they qualify I am sure they will be paid but it is a matter for the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.
The Deputy is moving away from the question.
The question is REPS based. It is time that one or other of the Departments clarify the matter.
It is super REPS. The Deputy need have no worries about this matter.
Is the Minister satisfied that there is sufficient staff available in counties such as Cavan to ensure that the administration of REPS is carried out in a proactive manner so that people who apply for the scheme and are awaiting inspection will be paid in a reasonable period of time? I am familiar with one recent case where there was quite a long delay and that puts enormous pressure on farmers especially in view of the difficult livestock situation which exists at present.
I am aware there are some difficulties in offices where staff who carried out these inspections retired and were not replaced. I am also aware of delays which are not the fault of the Department but of planners who included ditches in fields which had been removed from them 15 or 16 years ago. That suggests nobody walked the farm to look at it. I have seen that happen in three or four particular cases. The Deputy can rest assured that the Department is anxious to promote the scheme and, as he pointed out, be proactive. We will seek to ensure that all those who want to enter the scheme and who satisfy the rules will be approved and paid.
Is there any hope of extra staff being made available in the short term for this purpose?
That matter does not relate to this question.
