Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 November 2006
11 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason his Department has failed to obey a 2002 European Court of Justice ruling to implement sufficiently steps reclaiming Irish uplands vegetation damaged by sheep; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36613/06]
View answer25 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the expected level of fines that Ireland faces for failing to obey a 2002 European Court of Justice ruling to implement sufficiently steps reclaiming Irish uplands vegetation damaged by sheep; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36615/06]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 25 together.
Over-grazing of livestock has given rise to environmental problems, particularly loss of vegetation and soil erosion in commonages. Damage to the habitat of the red grouse in the Owenduff Nephin Beg complex special protection area in County Mayo has been the subject of a continuing infringement case, under the birds directive, taken against Ireland by the EU Commission in the European Court of Justice. The reasoned opinion of 18 October 2006, issued by the Commission, calls on Ireland to implement measures and demonstrate improvements in this area and in other commonages.
My Department, in co-operation with the Department of Agriculture and Food and the European Commission, has been working to resolve the issue of appropriate commonage management, which is made complex by the multiple shareholdings involved. The two Departments have put in place a number of measures which are directed at meeting EU requirements fully. These measures include full rather that partial de-stocking under the commonage framework plans; a requirement for participation in REPS or the NPWS farm plans by farmers in the area; guidelines to planners on appropriate carrying capacities for commonages; and a special closed period for all sheep farming on the Owenduff Nephin Beg commonage for five months of the year, that is, from November to December and from mid-February to mid-May. Farmers will be paid compensation for additional costs arising from the removal of sheep for this closed period.
In addition, my Department is increasing the monitoring of the condition of commonages and privately owned lands in designated areas. Where appropriate, it will take the necessary enforcement measures to secure compliance under the requirements of the directive. A national survey of the red grouse is also underway.
Can the Minister of State explain how compensation is arranged?
My Department has now agreed with farming representatives to make a payment of €40 per head for each ewe taken off the hills for the five-month period. We are also making a once-off payment of €2,000 to each existing REPS farmer in respect of de-stocking. A contract was entered into with REPS farmers which obliged them to de-stock at a particular level. They are now being asked to remove all of their ewes from the hills, so it is only right that they would receive extra compensation.
Are they happy with that?
Yes. There is an agreement with the farming community on that issue.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
