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Rural Environment Protection Scheme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 May 2010

Tuesday, 25 May 2010

Ceisteanna (377, 378)

David Stanton

Ceist:

405 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of applications for REPS 4 on a county basis; the number of applications which were accepted and rejected; the amount of money awarded to date on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22108/10]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The details requested are set out in the tabular statement attached. The acceptance of REPS 4 applications is governed by EU Regulations which require exhaustive administrative checks and on-the-spot inspections. In a significant number of the applications received, the administrative checks raised issues and queries which required further detailed examination. My Department's staff have been working to resolve these as quickly as possible. Many of these cases required the applicants' planners to amend the farm plans that were submitted originally. The applicants concerned were made aware of the position and the applications are being further processed without delay on receipt of amended plans. So far, 24,023 applicants have received full payment for 2009 and work is continuing to process the remainder as quickly as possible.

My officials have also been in contact with the 111 applicants whose plans had been rejected, to inform them of their right to appeal the decision. Alternatively, unless the application had been found to be fundamentally ineligible, applicants were given the opportunity to submit a new REPS 4 plan and application form on or before 17 May 2010. The latter cases will be dealt with as a priority.

REPS 4 applications and payments

County

Applications

Rejected Plans

Paid in full

Awaiting payment

Value of payments (estimated)

Carlow

300

0

274

26

1,150,800

Cavan

1,101

3

852

249

3,578,400

Clare

1,333

0

1,268

65

5,325,600

Cork

3,221

16

2,191

1,030

9,202,200

Donegal

1,898

5

1,736

162

7,291,200

Dublin

51

1

35

16

147,000

Galway

2,757

0

2,225

532

9,345,000

Kerry

1,999

2

1,173

826

4,926,600

Kildare

373

2

329

44

1,381,800

Kilkenny

833

1

752

81

3,158,400

Laois

761

6

705

56

2,961,000

Leitrim

880

32

697

183

2,927,400

Limerick

1,344

0

1,169

175

4,909,800

Longford

681

0

588

93

2,469,600

Louth

218

1

188

30

789,600

Mayo

2,703

17

2,081

622

8,740,200

Meath

561

2

424

137

1,780,800

Monaghan

903

13

765

138

3,213,000

Offaly

706

4

636

70

2,671,200

Roscommon

1,405

1

1,264

141

5,308,800

Sligo

917

0

727

190

3,053,400

Tipperary Nth

854

1

789

65

3,313,800

Tipperary Sth

1,004

0

852

152

3,578,400

Waterford

675

1

579

96

2,431,800

Westmeath

709

3

651

58

2,734,200

Wexford

783

0

705

78

2,961,000

Wicklow

406

0

368

38

1,545,600

Totals

29,376

111

24,023

5,353

100,896,600

David Stanton

Ceist:

406 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of REPS 3 farmers who have joined REPS 4, on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22109/10]

Amharc ar fhreagra

The majority of farmers who applied for REPS 4 were former participants in either REPS 1, REPS 2 or REPS 3. The following table details county-by-county the number of former participants in REPS 3 who applied for REPS 4.

County

Carlow

132

Cavan

383

Clare

462

Cork

1,165

Donegal

276

Dublin

23

Galway

692

Kerry

478

Kildare

146

Kilkenny

182

Laois

347

Leitrim

543

Limerick

457

Longford

149

Louth

42

Mayo

887

Meath

147

Monaghan

291

Offaly

258

Roscommon

219

Sligo

237

Tipperary Nth

315

Tipperary Sth

396

Waterford

443

Westmeath

348

Wexford

217

Wicklow

149

Totals

9,384

The new Agri-Environment Options Scheme was open to all farmers but I expect that many of those who were formerly in REPS 3 have submitted applications for the new scheme. While figures are not yet available as to the number of ex-REPS 3 participants in the new Scheme, the level of interest shown was very high and I expect many will have taken the opportunity to apply in order to continue farming within an agri-environmental framework.

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