Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2006
543 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if participants in REP schemes can take advantage of more than one supplementary measure simultaneously; if in REPS4 this will be possible; the reasoning behind the Government’s policy governing participation in more than one REP scheme supplementary measure simultaneously; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26365/06]
View answerCurrently farmers in REPS may draw down payment on two supplementary measures if one is either Traditional Orchards, LINNET Habitats or Riparian Zones and the other is either Conservation of Animal Genetic Resources (Rare Breeds), Organic Farming or Corncrake Habitats. The scheme seeks to achieve a balance between agricultural, environmental, budgetary and socio-economic priorities and I believe it has successfully achieved this. While I have not yet decided finally on the proposals for REPS 4 that will go to the European Commission later in the year, I believe the existing model should be retained as far as possible.
