Vol. 562 No. 1
230 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will review the destocking requirements of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and the position with this person's appeal against destocking restrictions. [5300/03]
Destocking arrangements are required to implement measures to protect and rejuvenate commonage areas that may be at risk because of overgrazing. They are an integral part of the agreement with the EU Commission secured in 1998. Any failure to implement them would put in question the generous REPS payments based on that agreement. There is no procedure for a review of the destocking figures outside of the appeals mechanism I have put in place. I recently extended the deadline for receipt of appeals against destocking figures to 14 March 2002 and, subject to the time taken by farmers to select a planning team and the capacity of planning teams to complete the reassessment, appeals will be dealt with as quickly as possible.
231 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when he will meet with the elected representatives of Mayo County Council in relation to the destocking issue in County Mayo. [5301/03]
The arrangements for the implementation of the commonage framework plans were finalised after a series of meetings between my officials and the farming organisations stretching over several months and covering a wide range of issues. I am fully aware of the concerns of farmers and the arrangements that I have now put in place afford farmers the maximum flexibility compatible with the 1998 agreement on commonages between my Department and the European Commission. That agreement formed the basis on which I have been able since 1999 to make generous payments of up to €242 per hectare on commonage land to farmers in the REP scheme. I am satisfied that there is no scope for further concessions. I believe, therefore, that a meeting with Mayo County Council representatives would serve no useful purpose at this time.
Farmers who are required to destock under the commonage framework plans may either join REPS and accept the generous payment rates negotiated in 1998, or may apply for compensation under a national scheme to be operated by Dúchas. I understand that discussions on this scheme between Dúchas and the European Commission are at an advanced stage. I have recently announced arrangements to enable farmers to appeal the destocking levels recommended in commonage framework plans. The appeals process will consist of a reassessment of the plan by a second approved framework planning team and a contribution of up to €1,300 will be available towards the cost of each appeal.
