Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 13 Feb 1996

Vol. 461 No. 4

Written Answers. - Corncrake Grants Scheme.

Seamus Brennan

Question:

107 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the proposals, if any, he has to switch funding from the specific conservation programme geared to saving the corncrake; his views on whether the experts' views that relying on the REP scheme in its current form would effectively end the corncrake's chances of surviving; the funding given in 1995; the comparative amount provided in the 1996 budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3015/96]

Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (Mr. M. Higgins)

I have, on a number of occasions, affirmed my commitment to the conservation of the corncrake and in 1996 I am demonstrating this commitment by virtually doubling the amount of money allocated to corncrake measures. The corncrake grants scheme has been operated by the Irish Wildbird Conservancy with funding from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the Royal Society for Protection of Birds. I have now arranged to continue for 1996 the same level of funding for the scheme as was spent in 1995, i.e., £64,000.

I have been seeking for some time to incorporate the existing corncrake conservation measures into the rural environment protection scheme which was initiated to facilitate and encourage environmentally-friendly farming practices. It is quite appropriate that this scheme should include measures to protect corncrakes and I see no reason why funding of such measures through REPS would affect the corncrake adversely. Indeed, I would ultimately hope to have a higher take-up under REPS because of the greatly increased payments which farmers would receive.

Take-up of REPS has been slow in "corncrake areas" and I have arranged that officials of my Department should meet the farming organisations to clarify and agree the measures required to protect corncrakes under REPS. I accept, however, that not all farmers wish to participate in REPS and to help meet these cases, I have approved a proposal to allow the NPWS to purchase some corncrake sites. These sites will then be leased back to farmers to be managed in a corncrake-friendly way. I have allocated £60,000 in 1996 to purchase these sites, to be jointly funded from the Exchequer and from the EU Life Fund. I am hopeful that these measures will improve the status of the corncrake and I will keep the matter under review.