Jimmy Deenihan
Ceist:11 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if there is a delay in issuing REP scheme payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13939/03]
Other Questions. - Rural Environment Protection Scheme.
Generally speaking, there is no undue delay in the processing of REPS applications or the issuing of annual REPS payments. Industrial action by clerical staff is affecting the processing of REPS applications in local offices in counties Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Galway and Mayo. Technical grades have recently withdrawn co-operation in respect of temporary transfers in certain grades. Such temporary transfers are used to prevent backlogs in processing applications pending the filling of vacancies. This action is affecting offices in Sligo, Carrick-on-Shannon, Monaghan and Cavan. My Department is arranging to fill the vacancies, which requires that certain procedures are followed. The advertising and processing of these vacancies is taking place and they will be filled without delay.
My Department will ensure that farmers will not be penalised for the late receipt of applications resulting from current industrial action. Where possible, farmers who are due to apply for their annual REPS payments should post their applications and obtain a certificate of posting in case a dispute arises. No one will be penalised due to factors outside the control of individual applicants.
It is important that everything possible is done to make REPS amenable as it is a good scheme which should be promoted. However, farmers are losing confidence in it and late payments are part of the reason. How long does it take to issue payments? Some cases appear to take much longer to deal with than others. I do not know the reason for this. What is the average length of time between submission of an application to the Department and the issuing of cheques?
The payment should issue within 14 weeks. REPS is an outstanding scheme and farmers have no excuse not to participate in it. Farmers obligations in terms of the countryside, which we have already discussed, under the scheme should, in any event, be good farming practice. It might interest Members to learn that €1.2 billion has been paid to farmers under the REP scheme to date. Approximately €200 million will be paid this year, a figure which is set to increase in the next two years. A further €1 billion or thereabouts will be paid under the scheme in the next three years.
Farmers receive €4,000 or €5,000 and in some cases as much as €8,500 per annum to implement good farming practice. I encourage them to participate in this superb scheme. I want the cost of the REPS plans kept to a minimum. REPS is being reviewed at present. We want to make REPS as simple and straightforward as possible and to take the costs out of it, particularly for smaller farmers. If a small farmer gets €2,500 or €3,000 and has to pay a few hundred euros for the plan, their net amount will be reduced. I want to reduce the complexity involved. There is every reason to encourage farmers to participate more fully. Approximately 37,000 farmers participate in it at present, but we want that to increase to approximately 55,000.
I agree with the Minister's comment that it is a good scheme and that people should be encouraged to participate in it. Many people regard filling out forms as a barrier but that is not the case. Some of the people in REPS II have been asked to go on a course, although they have already completed the same course under REPS I. That makes it more difficult for people. Why are people who have already completed a course in REPS I being asked to do the same course again?
While I agree that REPS is good for the country from an environmental point of view, almost 2,500 farmers had penalties imposed for non-compliance in 2002. While I appreciate that if someone is non-compliant penalties should be imposed, that figure represents 10% of the total number involved in REPS. That seems a high percentage. Is the system so complicated and difficult for them that they become non-compliant?
I do not accept that the system is overly complex. It is a good scheme with good amounts of money. Farmers are asked to do what good farmers do anyway in farming. However, I am currently carrying out a full scale review. We have received approximately 55 submissions under that review. The simplification and smooth running of REPS and the reduction in the amount of penalties and costs, particularly for small farmers, will be taken into account. We will then submit it to Brussels to get clearance for the new scheme. We want to see more people involved in the scheme. If up to €1 billion is available in the next three years for a scheme for good farming practices and to enhance the countryside, it is incumbent on all of us and on farm leaders to encourage participation in the scheme.
What about the courses?