Mapping out a new plan for REPS applications process

PLANS for a simplification of the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) application process were announced at the national ploughing championships.

Agriculture and Food Minister Joe Walsh referred to some delays in processing applications under current arrangements.

These were linked to meeting the EU regulatory requirement to cross-check areas submitted in REPS plans with the areas stored electronically on the department’s land parcel identification system (LPIS).

Minister Walsh said this was a factor in slowing the uptake of REPS and it placed additional demands on both REPS planners and his officials charged with operating the scheme.

In an effort to streamline the process, his department had agreed new arrangements following discussions with Teagasc, Ordnance Survey, the Agricultural Consultants Association and the farm organisations.

Under the new system, Minister Walsh said that all REPS planners will be given the facility to access and download land parcel information from the LPIS.

However, to protect farmers’ rights to confidentiality in relation to their Area Aid applications, this access will be limited to their client’s land parcel information only.

This will enable REPS planners to quickly identify and map farms when the farmer identifies land parcels in connection with their REPS application. It will also eliminate the often-significant cost of purchasing of Ordnance Survey maps.

To facilitate the new system, the minister said his department had arranged a payment of €1.3 million to Ordnance Survey for the provision of the relevant master mapping data which would be used in conjunction with the LPIS data.

He said that this digital mapping, which he expected to be made available to REPS planners via an internet web-browser later this year, will greatly facilitate the earlier processing of REPS applications. Minister Walsh said that these new arrangements will greatly simplify the procedures for submission of maps associated with REPS applications and should reduce costs to REPS applicants.

He said he was considering some further changes in REPS operational requirements and he expected to announce these at an early date.