Written Answers. - Rural Environment Protection Scheme.
Michael Ring
Ceist:
122
Mr. Ring
asked the
Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development
the number of regulations made by him and the EU respectively for commonage framework plans for the REP scheme; the details of these; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9608/00]
The rural environment protection scheme, REPS, was introduced on 1 June 1994 following the implementation of Council Regulation 2078/92, which governed the three accompanying measures to the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy in 1992.
The REP scheme was revised on 1 January 1999 and included a new supplementary measure, SMA, which applies to farmers with land in natural heritage areas, NHAs, special areas of conservation, SACs, special protection areas, and commonages. The criteria for the eligibility of commonage land under supplementary measure A of the REP scheme are formulated on the basis of the approval granted by the European Commission. The provisions of supplementary measure A are designed to provide a comprehensive approach to the conservation and /or regeneration of these target areas. Included in the new measure is the requirement for an agri-environment framework plan to be drawn up for each commonage, setting specific criteria for sustainable farming. As an interim measure, in conjunction with the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, a national commonage framework plan was put in place to address the problem of overgrazed commonages in the worst affected counties, Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Galway and Kerry.
The conditions of approval of supplementary measure A require that an agri-environment framework plan be drawn up for each commonage to include the establishment of a grazing regime including environmental stocking levels for the total area of the commonage; an overall grassland management plan; and measures for habitat protection.
The details to be included in commonage framework plans were agreed at European Commission level and teams consisting of an agriculturalist and an environmentalist were given specific training by my Department and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands in the methodology to be used in drawing up such plans. All commonage framework plans drawn up by the trained teams must be approved by both Departments.
The total area of commonage for which framework plans must be prepared is in the order of 480,000 hectares. Work on the preparation of the plans is ongoing and approximately 346,000 hectares have already been assigned to teams of which 163,619 hectares have been recommended for approval. Regular meetings are held between both Departments to monitor progress and projections are that the majority of framework plans will be completed by the end of 2000.
