Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 11 Oct 2000

Vol. 523 No. 5

Written Answers. - Special Areas of Conservation.

Ulick Burke

Question:

247 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the level of compensation available to farmers, part of whose lands are no longer available for farming activities due to designation under the Habitats Directive and where such designation has rendered farming the remaining portion un-viable; her views on the fact that such a fall out from designation was never intended under the directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21513/00]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera):

From my earlier reply to a similar question on 29 June 2000, the Deputy will be aware that I have submitted a draft compensation scheme to the EU Commission for its agreement. Under this proposed scheme farmers will be compensated for actual losses which arise from the designation of their lands as SACs. This compensation scheme will apply to farmers who are not in the voluntary rural environment protection scheme, and who enter into a management agreement with Dúchas, the Heritage Service of my Department.

I take this opportunity to confirm that I do not anticipate that the habitats directive and designation of SACs will necessitate wholesale changes in farming practice with consequent losses in income. Indeed, the fact that these special areas have survived up to now is evidence that they are already being farmed and used in a manner compatible with their continued conservation and preservation.