On Wednesday, 29 April 1998, I met a delegation from north Mayo arranged by the Fianna Fáil Oireachtas Members for the area. I was accompanied by two officials from my Department.
The group outlined to me the position regarding smallholders living in north Mayo who are in receipt of a payment from my Department. During the course of the meeting a number of proposals were put forward by the group and I have asked that these proposals be examined by my Department.
In this connection I recently announced, with my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, improvements in the method of assessing compensation payments under the rural environment protection scheme designed to improve take-up under that scheme especially by smallholders on social assistance payments. Under the revised arrangements, the first £2,000 is disregarded, with the balance being assessed at 50 per cent rather than on a full pound for pound basis as previously. This means, for example, that a farmer who receives a REPS payment of £4,000 will now be £1,000 better off. This represents a significant improvement in income support for those involved.
These improvements also apply to the compensation scheme for compliance with special areas of conservation conditions, which is operated by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands and to the enhanced REPS payments for those in SAC areas. I understand that a considerable amount of land in County Mayo has been designated and, therefore, smallholders in these areas will be the major beneficiaries from these improvements.