Vol. 486 No. 1
464 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food whether a compensation package has been agreed for farmers affected by SACs; if so, if he will give details of this; and the number of farmers paid to date in 1998. [1833/98]
My Department and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands reached agreement in February of last year with the farm organisations on a package of measures to provide compensation for farmers who have lands in special areas of conservation — SACs — or special protection areas — SPAs. It is intended that compensation will be available either through increased payments under the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) or under a national scheme operated through the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.
Approval is required from the European Commission for the revised REPS package for SACs and SPAs. Payments can commence only when this approval is received.
I understand that the national scheme under the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands is in place but that no payments have been made to date.
