142 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of REP scheme 1 and 2 participants in County Clare awaiting payment and or acceptance into the scheme whose documentation is now outside the agreed protocol time. [6991/02]

Currently, there are no participants in REPS 2 in County Clare outside the payment target provided for in the protocol for direct payments to farmers. In relation to applications for annual payments for REPS 1 participants in County Clare, there are 56 cases in which payment has not been made within the period provided for in the protocol. However, the protocol target applies only to valid applications, and in the majority of the cases referred to my Department is awaiting replies to queries which it has raised.