Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 7 Oct 2003

Vol. 571 No. 4

Written Answers. - Rural Environment Protection Scheme.

Pádraic McCormack

Ceist:

223 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of active REP scheme files, that is, those selected for audit, in County Galway that are recorded as suspended on the REP scheme computer system of his Department; the number of these which are outside the agreed protocol payment; the reason he considers that these files should be exempted from the agreed protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22265/03]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

In County Galway there are currently 27 cases awaiting payment where issues have been identified which must be rectified before payment can be made. While every effort is made to process payments as quickly as possible, the targets in the protocol on direct payments to farmers apply only to valid applications.