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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Oct 1999

Vol. 508 No. 5

Written Answers. - Designated Areas.

Denis Naughten

Question:

24 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the status of negotiations with land owners of designated callows and eskers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19122/99]

Denis Naughten

Question:

50 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the reason for the delay in providing compensation to landowners of callows and turloughs which have been designated by her Department; the plans, if any, she has to approve this compensation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19119/99]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 50 together.

I wish to remind the Deputy that my Department is committed to paying full compensation for all income losses arising out of the designation of callows and turloughs as special areas of conservation and-or special protection areas. No restrictions have yet been placed by my Department on farmers in these areas and consequently no losses have arisen and therefore no compensation is currently due.
Officials of Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department, and of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development have had meetings with farmers representatives on the management prescriptions necessary to ensure the conservation of habitats and species in callows and other habitat types. Prescriptions have already been agreed for the Burren, blanket bogs, heaths, upland grasslands, sand dunes and machair. The discussions relating to callows are nearing completion and, at the behest of the landowners representatives, both Departments have engaged appropriate farming and ecological consultants to prepare pilot farm plans for these areas and to assess any compensation due.
When those plans are completed and any income losses arising assessed additional consultation with landowner representatives will be arranged. The completion of matters relating to callows will enable both Departments to commence discussions with farmers' representatives on other habitats, including turloughs.
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