Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 June 2004
388 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason agreement has not been reached with the farming community in the Shannon callows area of counties Galway and Offaly concerning compensation for a huge loss of income due to areas designated as special areas of conservation and other such designations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19137/04]
View answer394 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if further to Parliamentary Question No. 797 of 27 April 2004, the progress to date on the matter; the date and agenda of the last meeting; when he intends to hold a further meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19323/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 388 and 394 together.
Outstanding issues on the Shannon callows are being addressed within the wider discussions under Sustaining Progress on the review of the 1997 habitats regulations. Following the reply to Question No. 797 of 27 April 2004, the meeting referred to therein took place on 11 May. While it was hoped that agreement would be reached on all outstanding issues at that meeting, this did not prove possible. A further meeting on the review under Sustaining Progress is scheduled for today, 29 June 2004.
In the meantime the revised rural environment protection scheme, REPS 3, has been introduced by the Department of Agriculture and Food, and includes provisions, of particular relevance to the Shannon callows, concerning corncrake conservation.
Further consultations have taken place between officials from my Department and from the Department of Agriculture and Food and representatives of the farming organisations on compensation issues on special areas of conservation and other designated areas, including issues specific to the Shannon callows. The present position on these matters is expected to be considered further at today's meeting.
