N derogation to widen REPS scope
“When the smoke clears on the nitrates directive, and we can secure a system of derogations for farmers above the level of 170 kg of organic nitrogen, we will go back to the Commission and ask that those farmers be made eligible for the REPS programme”, said Michael O’Donovan of the Department of Agriculture and Food during a recent presentation, on REPS 3, to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food.
He said EU Commissioner Fischler had indicated that once Ireland’s derogations are in place, “that type of proposal will be favourably considered.”
“We would like the more intensive farmers to join REPS. They will not want to extensify, but they can deliver other environmental benefits. When examined more closely, REPS and the nearby diversity options do not require that farmers give up good land to create habitats or grow hedges. There is plenty of scope on most farms on outlying or unreclaimed land to undertake some of these schemes without financial loss”, said Mr O’Donovan.
