Brian Cowen
Ceist:14 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will confirm media reports that half of all the REPS plans submitted this year are still in FDS offices. [16994/95]
Written Answers. - REPS Applications.
I am not aware of the media reports referred to by the Deputy. The accurate position is that over 7,700 applicants have already been approved for payment and this figure should be close to 8,500 by the end of the month. A further 2,000 cases are being examined in local offices, in consultation with the applicants' planners in many cases. In this connection the pattern is that almost 95 per cent of valid REPS applications are paid within eight weeks of lodgment.