Vol. 474 No. 1
97 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the level of compensation he considers adequate for farmers in special areas of conservation; the amount provided in his Department's Estimates; the heading under which it is provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2441/97]
98 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the number of farmers expected to avail of the special area of conservation compensation; the way in which the total amount required for 1997 has been estimated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2442/97]
102 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the compensation per acre which was offered by his officials at a meeting in Dublin on 17 January 1997 in respect of measures to protect special areas of conservation; if he intends to offer a set amount per acre rather than compensation as per actual losses suffered on a farm by farm basis; if the compensation will take into account future quantifiable losses as well as actual losses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2579/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 97, 98 and 102 together.
The Government has committed itself in the context of Partnership 2000 to the payment of a fair and proper level of compensation to those affected by the designation of special areas of conservation (SACs), having regard to the level and extent of restriction and all reasonable losses arising as a result of SAC designations, and to the difference between the value pre-designation for environmental purposes and subsequent value of the land consequent on designation as an SAC.
It is estimated that there will be between 10,000 and 15,000 farmers/landowners in the areas proposed for SAC status. The amount and form of compensation that will be payable has for some months been the subject of discussions involving my Department, the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, and farming organisations. As these discussions are ongoing, it would be premature at this stage to comment on the terms likely to be finally agreed. Until such agreement is reached, it is not possible to say what the cost will come to in 1997. However, adequate provision has been made in subhead S of my Department's Vote for 1997 to meet any necessary expenditure on compensation.
99 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the list of prescribed activities which his Department is contemplating that will not be permissible in respect of those farmers who are not operating under an approved REP scheme plan whose land will be designated as a special area of conservation. [2576/97]
101 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the area of lands in County Mayo described as sand dunes, sandy-banks and mochairs which will be designated as special areas of conservation; the approximate size of each such area; whether it will be permissible for current farming practices to continue to be carried on in such areas, to include the driving of tractors to bring feed to stock grazing in such areas in the winter period; and whether supplementary feeding of stock will be permissible during the winter period in such areas. [2578/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 101 together. Special areas of conservation (SACs) will generally be selected from the areas already proposed for eventual natural heritage area (NHA) status, and will account for about 550,000 hectares at about 400 sites, or about 70 per cent of the proposed NHA areas.
It is likely that proposed SACs will include approximately 25,000 ha. of sand dunes, with mochairs accounting for an additional 9,000 ha.
At this point is it not possible to say precisely how much of each habitat type will be proposed for SAC status in County Mayo. However, this information will very shortly be available to all those affected by designation proposals and to the general public.
Where current farming practices are not damaging the ecology of the land, there will be no necessity for change. However, where damage is occuring, change will be necessary.
The conditions applicable to SACs will differ from area to area. The likely impact of driving tractors over sand dunes and supplementary winter feeding of stock will be assessed having regard to the specific local circumstances applying.
The conditions that will apply to areas of blanket bog, heaths, upland grassland and the Burren, which are proposed as SACs, will be identical to those already agreed for such land types by my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry with Teagasc, farming organisations and private planners, in the context of the REP scheme. These conditions, which have already been agreed for approximately two-thirds of the areas that will comprise terrestrial SACs, will apply whether an affected farmer participates in the REP scheme. My Department is anxious to have similar discussions regarding other relevant habitat types. In this context, restrictions will be kept to the minimum that is consistent with the protection of the areas concerned.
100 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the reason maps on prohibited prescribed activities cannot be notified to individual farmers prior to the signing of the regulations, particularly having regard to the fact that proposed natural heritage area maps are currently being widely circulated in spite of the fact that legislation has not been introduced to Dáil Éireann and the failure of his Department to circulate the areas to be so designated which is causing widespread concern amongst the farming community. [2577/97]
Maps of the special areas of conservation proposed for designation under the habitats directive have been in the course of preparation by the national parks and wildlife service of my Department for some time. The Deputy will appreciate that this has been a lengthy and painstaking task. The maps have now been completed and will be made available following the signing by me of the regulations transposing the habitats directive into Irish law.
103 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the discussions, if any, he has had with farming organisations and other organisations in connection with his promises of consultation, compromise and compensation arising under the special areas of conservation; and the developments, if any, since the matter was discussed at the end of 1996 in a Private Members motion. [2580/97]
I and my officials have had extensive consultations with groups which may be affected by the implementation in Ireland of the EU habitats directive. For example, since the middle of last year, meetings with farming interests were held in mid-June, in September, on 1 October, 15 October, 21 October, 22 November, 27 November, 3 December, 8 December, 17 January (1997), 21 January and 24 January. Meetings with conservation and other non-farming bodies were held on 3 December and 11 December. Further meetings are already planned or scheduled.
The Deputy will no doubt be aware of the undertakings given to farming organisations regarding designation of special areas of conservation in the context of the Partnership 2000 agreement.
