Deputy Willie Penrose has hit out at the Government’s decision to close the Rural Environmental Protection Scheme (REPS ) to new applicants, describing it as a “severe blow to the farming community”.
The Longford-Westmeath TD said stopping the scheme, under which farmers are rewarded for environmentally friendly farming practices, will effectively prevent the creation of a sustainable rural economy.
“The proposed cuts in the REPS Scheme, a scheme that has played an important and pivotal role in implementing important positive environmental measures, will impact upon 34,000 farmers who are due to complete their environmental plans over the next four years,” said Deputy Penrose.
“Forestry Premium cuts, REPS cuts, and the potential cutting of the Disadvantaged Area Scheme will all reduce the economic viability of the rural economy, and ultimately lead to its demise. Does anybody at the Cabinet table give a hoot about agriculture, and the fact that the farming community are the primary custodians of our environment?”
He added that the REPS plays a vital role in conservation and landscape protection, and that local farmers are highly dependent on income derived from the scheme.
“These schemes are based upon the achievement of objectives as set out in agreed management plans. Surely it is clear to all our policy makers that schemes such as REPS and the Forestry Scheme are vital to environmental management functions and for the purpose of restoring an environmental balance. Likewise it is clear that many farmers who have communicated with me over the past few days are highly dependent upon the income derived from REPS in particular.
“I would ask the Minister to engage positively with the farming organisations on these issues, and I am further calling upon him to reverse these cuts, especially his recent announcement in closing the REPS 4 scheme to new applicants.”
