Given the pressures on the public finances and the level of up-take of REPS 4, I decided that it was necessary to reverse the 17% increase in REPS 4 payments and this reduction applies to REPS 4 payments in respect of 2009.
The closing date for REPS applications for 2009 has now passed. When the number of applications has been determined, I will be in a position to assess what level of financial commitment is involved and in this context it may be necessary to review the payment level for REPS 3 participants.
I will also be initiating a review of the scheme in the context of the overall level of participation, the funding which is likely to be available to me and the flexibility provided by the additional funding which I negotiated in the recent CAP "Health Check".