Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 6 Dec 2000

Vol. 527 No. 4

Written Answers. - Rural Environment Protection Scheme.

John Perry

Ceist:

132 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the plans he has in relation to the proposed removal of supplementary measure 5 of the REP scheme which entitles a landowner to up to £500 per annum for allowing walk routes to pass over his or her land; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the removal of this measure will have a catastrophic impact on Walking Routes Ireland as it will result in closure of some waymarked ways which are extremely important to the tourism industry here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29008/00]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

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-environment 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.