Vol. 513 No. 4
193 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if farming and ecological consultants, appointed by her Department and the Department of Agriculture Food and Rural Development, have completed farm plans to assess compensation due to farmers in special areas of conservation and-or special areas of protection in delegated callows and turloughs; when she will approve this compensation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2789/00]
194 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the state of the negotiations with landowners of designated eskers; when compensation will be approved for these landowners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2790/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 194 together.
My Department has engaged a number of consultants to prepare farm plans on a limited number of farms. These plans will be used as an example to landowners so that they may assess the likely compensation available from my Department vis-à-vis payments under the rural environment protection scheme.
In view of the peculiarities affecting landowners in callows areas, it has been agreed that a specific team will be engaged to prepare a number of plans relating to callows areas. This pilot project will be overseen by a committee, made up of representatives of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development and my Department and the relevant farming organisations. The appropriate consultants to prepare these plans have been agreed with the farm organisations and they will be engaged shortly.
My Department's compensation scheme provides for the payment of all actual income losses arising from the designation of land as special areas of conservation or special protection areas.
Until plans are implemented on these lands the matter of compensation will not arise.
