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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 1

Written Answers. - Compensation Payments.

Denis Naughten

Question:

952 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if her Department is in a position to pay compensation to landowners in designated callows; the reason for the delay in compensating landowners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1322/01]

My Department provides compensation to landowners for actual income losses arising from any restrictions needed to maintain the favourable conservation status of land included in special areas of conservation and special protection areas.

My Department, together with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, successfully completed negotiations on prescriptions for Burren habitats blanket bogs, heaths, upland grassland, sand dunes and machair. A number of other habitat – including callows – prescriptions have yet to be agreed. Until prescriptions are agreed for the callows, no general restrictions will be imposed and the consequential need for compensation will not arise.

Officials of both Departments have met organisations representing the Shannon callows farmers on numerous occasions over the past few years. At a meeting held in February 2000, agreement in principle was reached on the prescriptions which would be applied to the Shannon callows and other similar type lands. It was also agreed to prepare a number of farm plans on a pilot basis. These plans would apply the prescriptions and indicate the financial implications arising on the sample farms and therefore the appropriate compensation in those cases. It was envisaged that a further meeting would take place once the plans were completed at which any necessary refinement of the prescriptions in the light of the results could be discussed. Unfortunately the farmers subsequently refused permission to have the plans prepared on their lands.

In these circumstances both Departments are now giving priority to negotiating prescriptions for other habitats not previously addressed, rather than devoting further time, at this stage, to fruitless discussions on the callows.

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