Circular 07/06

To each R.I./A.S./D.S./AES Insp & all planning agencies

Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS)

New arrangements for farmers joining or switching over to REPS 3

The Minister for Agriculture and Food has announced the following new arrangements for farmers in REPS 2 who want to take on REPS 3 contracts between now and the end of the year. The Minister has also announced that farmers who hope to join REPS for the first time will need to have their applications in by the end of September.

Farmers in REPS 2 with contracts ending from 30 June 2006 to 30 November 2006

Farmers in this category have three choices:

  • Have their REPS 2 contract extended for a further year
  • Apply for a full 5-year contract in REPS 3
  • Leave REPS at the end of their contract

If farmers want to have their REPS 2 contract extended for a year, they must complete and return the necessary forms, which the Department will send them in plenty of time. They must apply before the end of their current REPS 2 contract.

At the end of the one-year extension, they can either leave REPS or apply for a new contract in REPS 4.

If they want to take on a new 5-year contract in REPS they will need to submit a REPS 3 plan, prepared by an approved REPS planner, before 30 September 2006. They can do this even if their REPS 2 contract is ending on 31 October or 30 November.

If they want to leave REPS at the end of their contract they need take no action. They can of course apply for REPS 4 when it becomes available.

Farmers in REPS 2 with payment anniversary dates from 1 July 2006 to 1 December 2006

If they are in this category they have two choices:

  • Continue as normal in REPS 2
  • Apply to transform their contract into a new 5-year contract in REPS 3

If they want to continue as normal in REPS 2 they must submit the annual application for payment (Form 1C) within 2 months of their anniversary date.

If they want to transform their contract into a new 5-year contract in REPS 3, they will need to send in a form of undertaking, signed by an approved planner, and submit a full REPS 3 plan between now and 31 March 2007. They can send in the form of undertaking at any time from now up to their REPS 2 anniversary date. The Department will send them this form of undertaking with their Form 1C, so that they can choose which one they want to use.

However they cannot take this option if they want to take on a new supplementary measure. In that case they will have to submit a full REPS 3 plan before their REPS 2 anniversary date or 30 September 2006, whichever is the earlier.

Farmers not already in REPS

If they are not in REPS already and they want to join REPS 3, they will need to submit a plan any time between now and 30 September 2006. The Department will not be able to process new applications from farmers who are not already in REPS if they are received after 30 September.

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Gerry RiceFrank Macken