Vol. 555 No. 5
377 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will ascertain from Dúchas the position on the discussions with the EU Commission regarding the compensation package for commonage sheep farmers; and when he hopes to announce details of the compensation package. [18872/02]
381 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when the appeals mechanism for de-stocking levels will be set up; when farmers can appeal their rate of de-stocking; and when details of the Dúchas compensation scheme will be announced. [18879/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 377 and 381 together.
The commonage framework planning process has been a joint operation between Dúchas, the Heritage Service of my Department and the Department of Agriculture and Food. An appeals system is now envisaged for this process similar to that operated by the special areas of conservation, SAC, appeals advisory board. Discussions between the two Departments on the composition of the appeals board and the mechanisms for hearing appeals on stocking levels are continuing with a view to activating the appeals process as soon as possible.
The proposed national scheme of compensation for losses arising from the designation of Natura 2000 sites, which includes the compensation package for commonage sheep farmers, was submitted to the EU Commission, state aids section of DG Agriculture, for approval in October 1999. Various queries were raised by the Commission in relation to the draft scheme. Every effort has been made, through correspondence and meetings at both ministerial and senior official level, to bring the matter to a conclusion. Replies were provided to the most recent Commission queries in July 2002 and it is intended to finalise this matter in the near future. I will be in a position to announce details of the compensation package when this EU approval to the scheme as a State aid has been received.
