Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 22 Feb 2000

Vol. 514 No. 6

Written Answers. - Special Areas of Conservation.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

254 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the effect, if any, the proposed national park in Mayo will have for herd owners with land adjoining it (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4813/00]

Michael Ring

Ceist:

259 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if land (details supplied) adjoining the proposed national park in Mayo will be included in the designation of special areas of conservation and national heritage areas; and the effect this will have to the local farms. [4826/00]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 254 and 259 together.

The Owenduff-Nephin proposed natural heritage area, advertised in 1994, and the Owenduff-Nephin proposed candidate special area of conservation, advertised in 1997, contain land now included in the Mayo National Park and adjacent to it.

Farmers with land included in special areas of conservation will be expected to farm their lands in accordance with a plan prepared under the rural environment protection scheme – REPS – administered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, or in accordance with a plan prepared by my Department. Farmers opting for the former will receive appropriate REPS payments; those who opt for my Department's scheme will receive compensation for actual income losses arising from implementing the plan. A committee of local landowners and land users has been established to liaise with my Department on matters to do with this special area of conservation.

There are no implications for land owners purely because their lands adjoin a national park. I have asked Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department, to supply a copy of the SAC map to the Deputy.