Brian Cowen
Ceist:126 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if the specialised grants scheme already in existence to assist with the long-term survival of the corncrake will be continued in 1996. [5119/96]
Written Answers. - Long Term Survival of the Corncrake.
I have on four occasions in this House since October 1995 reaffirmed my commitment to the conservation of the corncrake and to the funding of the corncrake grants scheme. The last such occasion was on 13 February 1996 and I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 107 on that date.
For the information of the Deputy, the new strategy towards conrcrake protection recently announced by me will see the funding allocated directly by my Department to this area virtually doubled. This new strategy involves long and medium term arrangements with farmers for corncrake-friendly farming. Most of these arrangements are expected to be under the rural environment protection scheme (REPS). Discussions are in progress with conservationists, farmers' representatives, the Department of Agriculture. Food and Forestry and farm planners to agree an appropriate prescription for corncrake-friendly farming. The measures involved will principally relate to dates of closing of meadows, dates of cutting hay and silage and mowing from the centre out.
Farmers who for various reasons do not wish to participate in REPS may be offered a new scheme whereby the portion of the land which contains corncrakes will be purchased by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and leased back to the farmer to be managed in a corncrake-friendly fashion. I have allocated £60,000 for this purpose in 1996, to be funded on a 50/50 basis from the Exchequer and the EU Life Fund.
NPWS staff will be holding public meetings in the areas concerned — Shannon Callows, North Donegal and the Moy Valley — to explain these proposals and will also visit farmers who have been involved in the corncrake grants scheme.
Funding for the corncrake grants scheme, operated by the Irish Wildbird Conservancy and jointly funded to date by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and NPWS, will be continued in 1996 and I have allocated £64,000 for this purpose. This will bring total funding by the State for this particular scheme to £205,000 since 1992.
I would draw the attention of those promoting, or benefiting from the corncrake grants scheme to the substantial benefits, both ecologically to the corncrake and financially to the landowner, of participation in REPS, where grants up to £6,000 per annum are available to landowners.