Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 11 Apr 2001

Vol. 534 No. 4

Written Answers - Habitats Prescriptions.

Ulick Burke

Question:

186 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will initiate renewed talks with the task force to implement the habitats directive in relation to the special areas of conservation and the special preservation areas, the land owners in the Shannon callows and the fair and proper compensation to be paid having regard to the level and extent of restriction on all reasonable losses arising from designations; if she will co-ordinate with the Department REP scheme compensation for loss of income including headage and premia or its alternative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10905/01]

Ulick Burke

Question:

187 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the reason she stated in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 952 of 30 January 2001 that she would not devote further time to fruitless discussions on the callows if she wants to provide partnership in the protection of habitats in parts of our country; if she will now indicate her intentions in relation to agreements made on 24 June 1999 at Tullamore with the task force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10906/01]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 187 together.

I refer the Deputy to my earlier reply, as referred to by him, in which the reasons for giving priority to matters other than the Shannon callows were fully explained. I regret that co-operation was not forthcoming last year for the study of financial implications of habitat prescriptions on farms in the callows. I would be pleased to see such a study successfully completed. This should now be possible if the farming organisations are ready to join with my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development in overseeing a study along the lines previously agreed, but based, if necessary, on different sample farms.

I envisage such a study as leading to speedy agreement on habitat prescriptions for the callows and similar lands to be implemented through the REP scheme, or, for farmers not in REPS, through farm plans leading to appropriate levels of compensation from my Department.

The Deputy will appreciate that the work of the task force on the callows cannot proceed without the agreement of the landowner participants to allow access to their lands. I look forward to such agreement by the landowners, who are themselves party to this task force, so that the agreed necessary work can proceed.