Vol. 408 No. 9
13 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the proposed pilot schemes to encourage environmentally sensitive farming will be established; the areas to be covered by the schemes; if it is intended to establish further pilot schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Two areas have recently been selected by me for designation as environmentally sensitive, one in the Slieve Blooms in the Counties of Laois and Offaly and the other at Slyne Head, County Galway. My Department are finalising the terms of the pilot scheme and when it is approved by the EC Commission, applications for participation will be invited. The extension of the sceheme to other areas will be considered in the light of experience gained in these two areas.
I presume the purposes of this scheme is to avail of money which is available from the European Community which has devised the scheme. I doubt if anyone in the Department of Agriculture and Food could think up a scheme off their own bat. Would the Minister of State define "environmentally sensitive farming"? Would sheep farming — I am not talking here about dairy and beef farmers who keep sheep to claim headage payments but rather about sheep farmers — be considered environmentally sensitive and will such farmers be able to claim assistance under the scheme?
Of necessity the scheme will operate initially only in the designated areas given that only a limited amount of funds is available. The scheme will be monitored and decisions will be made on the basis of the results. To answer the Deputy's question, those farming practices which are in harmony with the environment and natural resources would be considered to be environmentally sensitive. I have no doubt that the farming practice mentioned by Deputy Mac Giolla is very much in harmony with the natural environment and causes minimal damage.
Is the Minister of State aware that a substantial proportion of the lands designated "areas of scientific interest" are located on the western seaboard with the result that hundreds of farmers cannot dispose of the land or use it productively? Does the Minister of State propose to redesignate these lands as "environmentally sensitive" and if so, would farmers qualify for compensation which is available under the EC Directive?
Council Regulation 797/85 permits member states to introduce in designated areas schemes whereby farmers are paid an annual premium per hectare to adopt and maintain for at least five years farming practices to protect the environment and natural resources. Therefore Deputy Kenny will see that compensation is available.
Does the Minister of State propose to redesignate those areas at present designated "areas of scientific" interest" as "environmentally sensitive" so that farmers can qualify given that areas disignated "areas of scientific interest" have no legal status?
We will learn from our experience in the two pilot areas selected and put the lessons learned to good use.
Can the Minister of State say what is the size of the designated areas? Second, would he indicate if the extensification scheme will be implemented within the areas designated "environmentally sensitive"?
I do not have that information but I will convey it to the Deputy.
I presume the Minister of State will be responsible for designating areas. What are the criteria for designating environmentally sensitive areas under the EC scheme. Must it be an area of particular scenic beauty, scientific interest or what criteria does the Minister apply when selecting the areas?
The selection process will be done on the basis of the recommendations of the inter-departmental committee which was set up to recommend suitable areas for designation as environmentally sensitive in 1990.
Who are they?
It is reasonable to assume that the Minister for Agriculture and Food will be accepting the recommendations of that inter-departmental committee.
Could the Minister suppy me with the names of the committee members?
Unfortunately I have not got that information here.
May I have it afterwards please?
