Michael Ring
Ceist:147 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will confirm a definite date for the next REP scheme appreciation course to enable new REP planner agencies to be set up. [15554/01]
Written Answers. - Rural Environment Protection Scheme.
My Department had provisionally arranged courses for April and May 2001 but these had to be cancelled in line with essential precautions against the possible spread of foot and mouth disease. A visit to a rural environment protection scheme demonstration farm by all the participants is a vital element of these courses.
This matter is being kept under review and my Department will reschedule the courses as soon as it is considered practical and safe, in terms of foot and mouth disease precautions, to do so. Prospective participants will be informed directly as soon as dates for the courses have been confirmed. I can understand their anxiety to have the courses held as soon as possible but the matter has to be viewed in the light of the national importance of avoiding all risk relating to foot and mouth disease.