IFA leaders to discuss closure of REPS 4 scheme
10/07/2009 - 08:13:50The executive council of the Irish Farmers Association is holding an emergency meeting in Portlaoise this afternoon to discuss its response to the closure of the REPS 4 scheme.
The Government has stopped accepting new applicants to the subsidy scheme, but existing participants will continue to receive payments for up to five years.
Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith is also promising that an alternative agri-environment programme will be introduced to replace REPS 4.
However, the IFA says the move is another cutback on top of cuts in disadvantaged area payments and suckler cow payments earlier this year.
