Vol. 489 No. 7
183 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will exempt farmers with commonage from cross compliance regulations and allow them to join the REP scheme without owning ten acres of private land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9625/98]
The introduction of cross compliance was recommended by an independent report and was agreed by the Government in early 1997. Cross compliance will apply to commonages including those commonages in special areas of conservation and special protection areas.
Under the new REPS arrangements which have been drawn up in conjunction with the EU Commission Services and which are expected to receive formal EU approval next week the requirement that intending participants in REPS with owned commonage be farming a minimum of ten acres of privately held land, either owned or leased, in order to qualify the commonage for participation in REPS will no longer apply. Farmers who may be unable to join the REP scheme can avail of the national scheme which is being operated by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.
