Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 23 Feb 1999

Vol. 500 No. 7

Written Answers. - Rural Environment Protection Scheme.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Ceist:

253 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps, if any, he will take to deal with the anomaly in relation to young farmers who took over the family farm since 1997 to entitle them to the REP scheme; if his attention has been drawn to the hardship this is causing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5225/99]

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

254 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason REP scheme payments are not eligible for consideration in the case where commonages within special areas of conservation were not part of an appropriate lease before 1997; his views in this regard; his further views on whether this particular decision rules out any new farmers going into farming in the REP scheme in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5226/99]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 253 and 254 together.

The new REPS measure on the conservation of natural heritage applies to natural heritage areas, special areas of conservation, and special protection areas and commonages. In order to qualify for the new measure, farmers or successors in title who own commonage shares and/or grazing rights must have declared the commonage for area aid in 1997 or 1998 and either held quota rights or lodged an application for livestock premia/headage. In the case of farmers with less than 15 livestock units (LUs) who have not made an area aid application, they must provide evidence acceptable to the Minister that in 1997 or 1998 they farmed the commonage and either held quota rights or lodged an application for livestock premia/headage.

Young farmers who have taken over the family farm since 1997 will continue to be eligible to participate in the REP scheme subject to meeting the terms and conditions of the scheme.

Leased commonage is not eligible for payment under the scheme. However, farmers who held commonage on lease and who had included this in their area aid applications in 1997 or 1998 and have now purchased the commonage will be eligible for payment.