I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 96 together.
Nearly 300 applications under the rural environment protection scheme have now been received by my Department. One hundred and sixteen of these have been accepted and are being processed for payment.
I understand that approximately 1,500 further applications are in the pipeline in the sense that agri-environmental plans are in the course of being drawn up by approved planning agencies.
The scheme can be of considerable benefit to Irish farmers and to the protection of the environment and I am very satisfied with the response to date from farmers.