85 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will provide the additional staff required in farm development services to deal with the REP scheme applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12318/02]

The vacancies in the farm development service work area will be filled in the near future. My Department has already assigned an additional district superintendent and two additional clerical officers to the farm development service work area. Arrangements are also being made to assign 13 additional supervisory agricultural officers and another additional clerical officer to that area. It is expected that these assignments will be made shortly.