266. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person who is currently subject to a contract under the rural environment protection scheme transfers ownership of land to a son, whether that person will be deemed to have broken the contract, or whether the contract will continue in place with the new farmer. [8803/15]

In a situation such as this, a contract can be transferred to a son provided the son is willing to continue the contract to its natural end. However, the son must hold a herd number in his own right and would also have to submit a new acceptable REPS plan to the local Office. If the new plan was deemed acceptable to the Department then the contract would be allowed to continue under the son.