Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 9 Dec 1999

Vol. 512 No. 5

Written Answers. - Commonage Division.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

36 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason progress on drawing up farming plans for commonages in special areas of conservation and national heritage areas has been so slow as reported at a Teagasc conference in Johnstown Castle in November 1999; and the assurances he will give for the future of commonages such as Ring Commons, Balbriggan, which are being destroyed by illegal dumping and annexed by a private landowner adjacent to the commons. [26330/99]

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

Commonage framework plans are, in effect, a comprehensive environmental assessment of commonage land. These plans are being drawn up by teams of agriculturalists and environmentalists specially trained by my Department and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. The preparation of such plans involves a detailed assessment of the environmental status of each commonage. The main aim of the framework plans is to determine the sustainable level of farming activity which will allow for the regeneration of damaged vegetation.

The Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands have entered contracts for the drawing up of framework plans for 65 commonage work blocks comprising an area of 245,700 hectares, 65,700 hectares of which have been completed and a further 35,500 hectares of which it is expected will be completed in the very near future.

The process used in drawing up the plans is more complex than originally anticipated and in recognition of this fact additional teams were trained to help with the process. In view of the fact that the information in these plans will establish baseline data for future evaluation it is essential that the procedures for drawing up the plans be fully complied with.

In advance of the release of individual commonage framework plans, interim framework plans are in place to enable farmers with commonage land, which meets the eligibility criteria, to join the REP scheme.

National legislation has been enacted to deal with the problem of illegal dumping. The persons or bodies empowered under such legislation are primarily responsible in this area but in so far as the rural environment protection scheme is concerned participants are prohibited from engaging in such actions. The question of annexation of land is a matter of title which again is governed by national legislation. It is a condition of eligibility under the REP scheme that participants must have legal title to the land declared.