Scheme contributes to farm income

THE Rural Environment Protection Scheme has been a major contributor to farm income for participating farmers, the Teagasc national REPS conference was told in Tullamore, yesterday.

Teagasc’s Head of REPS Eugene Ryan said the scheme contributes on average an increase in income of €2,633 over non participants for mainly sheep systems.

Some €209 million was spent supporting the scheme nationally in 2004.

At the beginning of this year there were 43,000 participants with 29% in REPS 3. Over 50,000 are expected to be participating by year end.

Mr Ryan said REPS 3 will end towards the latter part of 2006.