Vol. 498 No. 4
190 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the action, if any, he will take to prevent the excessive use of wire by farmers in the rural environmental protection scheme in view of the fact it is maintained by a group (details supplied) that this wire is having a detrimental effect on the countryside and the environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27380/98]
215 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied) on the excessive use of wire in the REP scheme; his views on the conclusions and recommendations of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27487/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 190 and 215 together.
I received a copy of the report in question very recently and I will have it examined by my Department. An important requirement under REPS is that farm boundary fences be stock-proofed. The specification does not stipulate the type of fencing but every encouragement is given to the use of existing natural barriers such as hedgerows and their inplantng where necessary for the purpose of stockproofing.
