Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Nov 1999

Vol. 509 No. 6

Written Answers. - Commonage Framework Plans.

Michael Ring

Question:

267 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if a framework document has been finalised for a particular commonage in County Mayo in conjunction with the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands; if so, the stocking requirement in this regard; and if the herd owners affected will be individually notified in particular in relation to the case of a person (details supplied). [21652/99]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

The commonage framework plan for the particular commonage referred to has been finalised. The detailed plan has established that a destocking requirement of 81 per cent is necessary to allow for the regeneration of the commonage.

The intention is that cross-compliance will apply when detailed framework plans are completed in respect of all commonages in the six western counties of Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Mayo, Galway and Kerry. It is the Department's intention to notify farmers in due course that in order to be entitled to ewe premium or sheep headage those with commonage land in the counties concerned must join REPS or the national scheme to be operated by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. In the meantime, under the provisions of a national interim commonage framework plan, a 30 per cent reduction in sheep is required. As detailed framework plans are completed for individual commonages the destocking levels required under those plans are applicable to farmers who apply to join REPS. Farmers already participating in REPS will have their existing REPS plans revised to reflect the destocking required under completed detailed commonage framework plans.