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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Dec 2000

Vol. 527 No. 3

Written Answers. - Special Areas of Conservation.

Ulick Burke

Ceist:

313 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if the sites designated as SACs or NHAs under the new Wildlife Bill will be rural proofed in accordance with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development's White Paper; if the management plans at present being developed by Dúchas have an input for the landowners involved; and if a landowner who is not in a REP scheme, or in receipt of Government grants can be forced to comply with the Dúchas management plan. [28239/00]

The Deputy will be aware that SACs and NHAs are proposed for designation on account of their scientific and ecological importance, the issue of "rural proofing" as outlined in the White Paper referred to does not arise in that context.

Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department, will be consulting the public about draft management plans for SACs before they are finalised. The landowners involved will be consulted first, through the landowners' liaison committees. A farmer with land in a SAC who does not wish to join REPS will have the option of being compensated for any actual losses arising, on the basis of a farm plan proposed under the Dúchas compensation scheme. In some situations, such as ewe premia payment on commonage lands, a farmer will be required to join one or other scheme in order to avail of other EU-funded schemes.

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