Enda Kenny
Question:190 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding the revised REP scheme package for special areas of conservation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23623/98]
Written Answers - Rural Environment Protection Scheme.
The revised REPS package for natural heritage areas — NHAs — including special areas of conservation — SACs — and special protection areas — SPAs — and commonages requires that a framework plan be drawn up for each commonage. It will take some time before framework plans will be available for all commonages. In the meantime, as I announced last week, interim arrangements have been agreed between my Department and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands to put a national commonage framework plan in place pending the completion of individual commonage framework plans. Under these new arrangements, farmers in these areas either already in REPS or who join can avail of the higher rates of compensation of £80 per acre for the first 100 acres with additional payments for the next 200 acres. The revised scheme necessitates an amendment to the REP scheme document and agri-environmental specifications to incorporate the new measure. Copies of the revised scheme document and specifications will be available shortly as will application forms for the new REPS measure.