Michael Ring
Ceist:231 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when details of the framework document will be announced. [9898/99]
Written Answers. - Rural Environment Protection Scheme.
The revised REP scheme requires that a framework plan be drawn up for all commonage land.
The preparation of the framework plans is being carried out under the supervision of my Department and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. As there are approximately 8,000 commonages in all it will take some time before framework plans will be available for all commonages. Priority is being given to the preparation of plans in the six western counties of Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Galway and Kerry and it is expected that many of these plans will be available by the end of June 1999.
In the meantime, an interim national commonage framework plan, agreed between my Department and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, has been put in place pending the completion of individual commonage framework plans.
Michael Ring
Ceist:232 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason farmers whose lands are not overgrazed have to de-stock due to their commonage holdings; the reason no allowance is being paid to farmers for housing stock in the winter months when this would directly affect overgrazing levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9899/99]
The revised REP scheme requires that a framework plan be drawn up for all commonage lands. The preparation of the framework plans is being carried out under the supervision of my Department and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. It will take some time before framework plans will be available for all commonages.
Pending the availability of commonage framework plans arrangements have been agreed between my Department and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands to put an interim national commonage framework plan in place. The interim plan involves a destocking of mountain ewes equivalent to 30 per cent of the quota held in 1998 for flock holders who use commonage in six counties, Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Galway and Kerry, that is those counties identified as having overgrazed commonages. Commonage framework plans will determine the rate of destocking, if any, on individual commonages and the level of stocking allowed on commonages under the interim plan will be reviewed when the individual commonage framework plans are available.
There is no provision in the REP scheme under which an allowance could be paid to farmers for housing stock in the winter months.