Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Mar 2003

Vol. 563 No. 4

Written Answers - Rural Environment Protection Scheme.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

203 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his views on the proposal for a new public access scheme over farmlands, in view of the fact that some walkways are now closed or under threat of closure; his further views on whether the payment of ?40 a hectare in the proposal is a reasonable one; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8090/03]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

I am not aware of the proposal to which the Deputy refers. Supplementary measure five of the previous rural environmental protection scheme provided for payments to farmers who undertook to give public access to their land for environmentally friendly leisure and sporting activities. There is no supplementary measure of this kind in the new scheme which commenced on 27 November 2000. Unlike the regulation governing the previous scheme, the EU Council regulation under which the new REP scheme is implemented includes no provision for a public access measure as part of the EU co-funded agri-environment programme.

In an effort to secure the continued availability of public access as part of REPS, my Department made proposals to the European Commission for the inclusion of the measure in the new scheme as a State aid fully funded by the Exchequer. However, the Commission indicated that a public access measure was not admissible under the regulation, even as a State aid. Participants in the previous REPS who undertook supplementary measure five may continue to avail of payments under this measure until the end of their existing agreements.