I wish to share time with Senators Ó Domhnaill and Bradford.
The Minister has been in the House all day and I do not want to have a go at him in particular but I must say that, in respect of an important issue such as the cut to the rural environment protection scheme, REPS, I would prefer if the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food or one his two Ministers of State were present to respond.
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Dermot Ahern, mentioned Towards 2016 in his response to Senator Donohoe. One of the most objectionable aspects of the Government's shock announcement to cut the REP scheme is that it is part of social partnership. The farming pillar is part of the social partnership agreement and the unilateral decision that has been taken flies in the face of social partnership, which the Government, particularly the Taoiseach, takes pride in supporting, particularly in this time of economic uncertainty.
There is unprecedented and justified anger among farmers and farming families on foot of the Government decision to cut the scheme. Over 60,000 farming families nationally are involved in the scheme in some way. It was projected that the new REPS 4 would attract approximately 62,000 farmers before it finished — that was understood at the time it was drawn up. There are approximately 27,000 farmers in the scheme at present. The maximum payment is approximately €9,500 and the average payment is approximately €6,500.
In this time of economic uncertainty, farmers, as with everybody else, are being asked to contribute by way of the income levy — the Lenihan levy — and they are being hit by every other aspect of the Government's attempts to grapple with the economic difficulties. They are also being affected by a number of cuts directed specifically at agriculture. Since the budget last October, the suckler cow welfare scheme payment has halved, there has been a change to the rules concerning the farm waste management scheme such that funding will be made available over three years, the installation aid and early retirement schemes have been suspended and forestry premiums have been cut dramatically. The disadvantaged areas scheme, which applied to many farmers in the REP scheme, has already been subject to a cut in the order of 11% and it is projected to be subject to a cut in the order of 15% as part of the REPS-related announcement made last week. That is a shocking indictment of this Government which has neglected rural Ireland. It might feign interest in rural development but the most obvious and direct way of ensuring that is to ensure that as many viable farming enterprises are maintained as possible.
REPS has been shown to be successful. A recent report on farm waste management shows that farmers have markedly improved their facilities, whereas more than 50% of local authorities are polluting. Only a few farmers are in that category. The Government decided last week to initiate a move that would particularly hit small farmers, dry stock farmers, who have suffered a great deal in recent years because of the price of beef and lamb, and those who operate on marginal land. That is reflected in the decision to cut the disadvantaged area payments.
I hope the Minister will be able to outline to the House the details of the scheme to replace REPS that the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food mentioned last week. I understand this will come nowhere near replacing the income lost by farm families as a result of this cut but I will await the Minister's response before passing judgment.
