Vol. 528 No. 2
104 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development his view on the removal of measure five from the REP scheme programme; the way in which it is intended to compensate farmers allowing access to their lands for walkways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29892/00]
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 was not admissible 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.
