Vol. 550 No. 4
576 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if Dúchas will give a commitment to continue compensating farmers for their destocking for a number of years; and her proposals in this regard. [9155/02]
From 2003 it is expected that farmers affected by destocking on commonages in the context of commonage framework plans will be eligible for compensation either under the rural environment protection scheme operated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development or under the national scheme operated by Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department. It is intended that compensation for losses in 2002 arising out of the interim 30% destocking will be paid later this year.
