1,800 sign on for REPS 3

THERE has been a windfall for REPS farmers, following the completion of negotiations with the EU for the start-up of the new scheme.

With REPS 3 more than six months behind schedule, participants are to have their payments backdated for three months, in partial recompense for income lost during the delay in finalising the scheme.

Gerry Gunning, Executive Secretary, National Rural Development Committee, IFA, said the decision to backdate the payments under the new scheme to March 1, 2004, had been sought by IFA, because of the delay for which farmers were not responsible.