Vol. 524 No. 1
146 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands when the framework document for commonages will be in place in the western regions; the position in this regard; and the areas which have been finalised. [21793/00]
The preparation of commonage framework plans is a joint operation of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development and my Department. There are 125 commonage blocks in the 13, mainly western, counties containing most of the upland commonage. These blocks cover approximately 445,000 ha., 118 blocks covering 425,183 ha., have been assigned to framework planners, and plans covering 240,800 ha., have been completed and approved by both Departments. Draft plans for a further 61,000 ha., are under examination at present. It is estimated that draft plans for a further 38,000 ha., will be returned for examination by the end of this month. I have been advised that all upland commonages should be completed by the end of this year. No one county is yet fully complete.
