Gerry Reynolds
Ceist:120 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if farmers who participate in REPS V will receive compensation for allowing way marked walkways on their lands. [28824/00]
Written Answers. - Rural Environment Protection Scheme.
REPS participants currently in receipt of payment under supplementary measure 5 may continue to avail of payments under this measure until the end of their existing agreements.
Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999, under which the new REPS will be implemented, does not make provision for a public access measure as part of the EU co-funded agri-environmental programme.
In an effort to secure the continued availability of public access as part of REPS, proposals were made to the European Commission for the inclusion of the measure as a State aid, fully funded by the Exchequer. However, the Commission has indicated that a public access measure will not be allowed under the agri-environment title of Regulation (EC) 1257/1999, even as a State aid.
The national rural development programme will provide for local groups to implement rural tourism measures and it may be possible to provide funding for walking route amenities in this context. The details of the measures have yet to be worked out with the European Commission.