Vol. 470 No. 5
21 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry his views regarding the impact of environmental designation on farming practices; the discussions, if any, he has had with the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht in relation to the designation of lands as national heritage areas, special areas of conservation and special protection areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19429/96]
Environmental designations in relation to natural habitats and wildlife are a matter for the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht. Undoubtedly, however, such designations will have an impact on farming practices. My Department has been involved closely with the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, farm organisations and others in agreeing farming conditions for the Burren and other proposed natural heritage areas. My Department's involvement arose primarily through a supplementary measure to the rural environment protection scheme. Under REPS, farmers who have some or all of their lands in a proposed NHA must comply with conditions for the conservation of the proposed NHA as prescribed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht. Farmers who join REPS and farm in accordance with the conservation conditions obtain an additional £30 per hectare, subject to a maximum of 40 hectares. Farming conditions for these areas were agreed on 4 October 1996.
I understand that the designation of Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas will be effected by the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht in its implementation of the provisions of the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive respectively into national legislation. Recently preliminary discussions took place at official level between my Department and the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht in relation to proposed legislation on SAC. It is my understanding that further discussions in this regard will be taking place in the near future. No discussions have taken place between our two Departments in relation to special protection areas.
The principal area of common interest between my Department and the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht on these issues is on how they impact on REPS participants and how REPS can enhance such areas.
