Vol. 515 No. 1
106 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will establish an ecological and nature conservation unit in his Department to oversee the implementation of nature conservation and restoration schemes such as the rural environmental protection scheme. [5466/00]
The rural environment protection scheme is an agri-environmental scheme whose objectives are to establish farming practices and production methods which reflect the need for environmental conservation and protection; to protect wildlife habitats and endangered species of flora and fauna; and to produce quality food in an extensive and environmentally friendly way. REPS, though not primarily a nature conservation and restoration scheme, contributes significantly to such objectives.
The expertise available from within my Department and from other Departments and State organisations is, I believe, adequate to oversee the implementation of the scheme. Future monitoring and evaluation procedures will further enhance the contribution made by REPS to the environment.
Given the positive results of REPS to date, I do not propose to establish an ecological and nature conservation unit within my Department to oversee the implementation of the scheme.
