Donal Moynihan
Question:118 Mr. D. Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the new detailed framework plans for all commonage under the REP scheme measure will be available. [7285/99]
Written Answers. - Rural Environment Protection Scheme.
The revised REP scheme requires that a framework plan be drawn up for all commonage land. The preparation of the framework plans is being carried out under the supervision of my Department and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. As there are approximately 8,000 commonages in all it will take some time before framework plans will be available for all commonages. Priority is being given to the preparation of plans in the six western counties of Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Galway and Kerry and it is expected that many of these plans will be available by the end of June, 1999.
In the meantime an interim national commonage framework plan, agreed between my Department and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, has been put in place pending the completion of individual commonage framework plans.