Michael Ring
Ceist:133 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if farmers have been paid in respect of the 30 per cent cull under the cull ewe scheme in operation last year. [17693/99]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
John Perry
Ceist:134 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the steps, if any, she has in place to ensure that compensation payments are immediately paid out to farmers who destocked their sheep by 30 per cent in commonage areas; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this destocking was deemed necessary by her Department for the completion of commonage framework plans for non-REP scheme farmers; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that promises were made that payment would be made in September 1999; when payment will be released; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18428/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 134 together.
The interim national commonage framework plan, which was introduced in 1998, set a 30 per cent reduction of sheep quotas on commonages in six western counties. This reduction continues to apply for the time being, as the preparation of commonage framework plans to determine appropriate stocking levels for individual commonages is still in progress.
Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department, has prepared a scheme for compensation payments for income losses to landowners affected by designation of special areas of conservation, SACs, and special protection areas, SPAs, for birds. It is proposed that this scheme will also cover income losses arising from reduction of quotas on commonages. It will be available as an alternative for those farmers who do not opt to join the REP scheme operated by the Department of Agriculture and Food. The compensation scheme is currently being submitted for approval to the European Commission. On receipt of that approval it is intended to make compensation payments to commonage farmers who are not in REPS and who have destocked in line with the interim national commonage framework plan. These payments will provide a fair level of compensation per head of quota removed for income losses this year.