The decision to close REPS 4 to new applicants was taken against the background of the situation in the public finance, the budgetary resources available to my Department and the level of expenditure arising from commitments, particularly in future years, from the increase, between 2008 and 2009, from 46,694 to approx. 63,000 in the number of REPS participants. All participants already in the scheme will continue to receive payment until their current contracts run their course. In addition, all applications received before the closing date of 15 May 2009 for the 2009 scheme year and those received up to the date of closure of the scheme will be considered for entry into the scheme in accordance with the eligibility requirements. There are currently 2,923 participants in REPS 4 in County Mayo.
I hope to secure formal approval of the European Commission for a new agri-environment scheme very shortly. It is not possible, at this stage, to forecast the level of expenditure under the new scheme. The scheme will operate on the basis of a five year contract period for participants and expenditure will depend on the number of applicants, the nature of the environmental measures which they undertake and, ultimately, the resources provided to the Department for the scheme in the annual Estimates process.