€50m agri-environment scheme described as ‘shambles’ by FG

THE new €50 million agri-environment scheme announced by Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith has been given a mixed reaction.

Mr Smith said the scheme represents a new approach to the rural environment with farmers being paid to undertake identifiable and verifiable environmental measures. He said he was satisfied the majority of participants will be able to reach the maximum payment of €5,000. But Fine Gael agriculture spokesperson Michael Creed said the scheme was a shambles. He said the minister’s stated intention to return to Brussels to seek amendments and improvements to the scheme he had just launched indicated how inept his handling of the process had been.

“The improvements being sought, which I called for in the Dáil earlier this month, are to be welcomed. However, the scheme in itself is a far cry from the original Rural Environment Protection Scheme,” he said.