Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2010
591 Deputy Seán Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if a REP type scheme will be available in 2011, in view of the fact that some 20,000 farmers are due to leave REP scheme three between 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29981/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraBy the closing date of 17 May 2009, my Department had received over 9,000 applications under the recently introduced Agri-environmental Options Scheme from farmers who, if they prove eligible, will be entitled to up to €5,000 per year for the period ending 31 December 2015. Together with ongoing commitments in REPS, this means that all EU funding for agri-environment payments up to the end of 2013 is now fully committed. Any further support for agri-environment schemes in that period will, therefore, have to be funded entirely by the Exchequer and this is a matter which will be considered in the context of the annual Estimates process.
