Pádraic McCormack
Question:241 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the proposed changes he intends to introduce in relation to funding of the REP scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11760/04]
View answerTuesday, 27 April 2004
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Written answers
I have provided €260 million funding for the REP scheme for 2004. This is a 43% increase over the outturn for 2003. It will allow me to accommodate increased numbers of farmers in the scheme and to pay them the higher rates agreed in Sustaining Progress, once the European Commission has given its approval to proposals for amendments to the scheme which it is currently considering. The payment rates agreed in Sustaining Progress, which will represent an average increase of 28% to farmers, are €200 per hectare annually on the first 20 hectares, €175 on the next 20 hectares, and €70 on a further 15. At present, the basic rate is €165 per hectare on farms under 20 hectares; on farms up to 40 hectares the rate is €151 per hectare and there is no payment on areas over 40 hectares.