Vol. 525 No. 2
339 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will review the eligibility criteria for REP scheme and ERS planners as recognised by the Department; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of graduates who did the agri-business course in UCD are ineligible to be considered as approved REPS planners; and if he will review this in view of their qualifications. [24449/00]
To ensure that individuals who offer REPS planning services are suitably qualified to do so, my Department has established a set of minimum qualifications for those wishing to be approved for REPS planning work. These qualifications have been re-examined recently in the context of the introduction of the new REP scheme and a degree in agriculture based on agri-business and rural development will be accepted by my Department.
My Department does not require the involvement of agri-environmental planners in the early retirement scheme or set down eligibility conditions for them.
