Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 14 Dec 2000

Vol. 528 No. 3

Written Answers. - Commonage Land.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

93 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development his views on the fact that commonage land in any of the six western counties that may have a very low stocking rate, such as two acres to one ewe, is in a position that if a farm of good quality private land comes onto the market the owner of the commonage land can only stock it at the level he currently holds, such as two acres to a ewe, in view of the fact that another person can lease this land and stock it to a maximum number of ewes in a REP scheme; and the reason this is the case. [30330/00]

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

The preparation of detailed commonage framework plans for every commonage is at an advanced stage, and when these plans are implemented stocking rates will be set which will reflect the environmental needs of each commonage.

It is important to recall the context in which limits on stock levels had to be set. In certain environmentally sensitive zones in Ireland, a number of farmers have grazed sheep at levels that caused environmental degradation. The problem is particularly acute on commonages.

Supplementary measures in the initial REPS programme to address overgrazing and degradation of land did not have the desired effect, because take-up was particularly low in commonage areas and where one farmer might make efforts to improve the environment they were often offset by the behaviour of other farmers on the same land. It was necessary to devise a global approach.

The REP scheme was therefore revised in 1999 to include a new supplementary measure A – in the new scheme recently introduced, this is known as measure A. This measure includes the requirement that framework plans be drawn up, under the supervision of my Department and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, for all commonage land. The main aim of these plans will be to set sustainable stocking levels, which will allow for the regeneration of damaged vegetation. Under this measure, the EU Commission approved very substantial payments of up to £77 per acre on eligible commonage lands.

As part of the agreement on the introduction of supplementary measure A, my Department and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands have put an interim national commonage framework plan in place pending the completion of detailed framework plans for individual commonages. The interim plan required destocking from November-December 1998 equivalent to 30% of mountain ewes for flock holders not already in the REP scheme who use commonage in the six western counties of Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Galway and Kerry, where the overgrazing issue was deemed to be most serious.

When the detailed commonage framework plans are in place, farmers with commonage land must, as a condition of the compensatory allowance and premium schemes, be participating in REPS or in a national scheme to be operated by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.

In approving the agreement with the EU Commission which forms the basis of the approval of measure A, strict eligibility conditions had to be put in place in order to secure funding for commonage land under the REP scheme. Commonage framework plans must be completed in respect of all commonages setting out the environmentally sustainable level of farming activity permitted. Payment may only be made in respect of owned commonage shares over which farming rights are exercised. No increase in stocking intensity is permitted, and where destocking is required this can not be achieved by a re-distribution of stock on other parts of the holding. Payment is expressly prohibited in respect of leased commonage and dormant shares.

Where destocking is required the stocking intensity on the entire holding is established and the percentage destocking required is applied only on the commonage area of the holding. Quota rights suppressed as a result of destocking are frozen in the name of the farmer and may be restored as regeneration of the commonage occurs.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

94 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the use to which commonage land designated as special areas of conservation and not having area aid application in the relevant years is put; if it will be allowed to get sheep quota; if it will be allowed to be planted with trees; if it will be allowed to be developed; if it will not make sense to sell or lease it to neighbouring farmers in view of the fact this would only make the neighbours' situation worse; and if the land cannot be used for the purposes outlined, the options available to a person for the use therefor. [30331/00]

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

All commonage land is subject to an agreement negotiated with the EU Commission in 1998 following which the rural environmental protection scheme was revised to include a new supplementary measure A – in the new scheme recently introduced, this is known as measure A. Under this measure, the EU Commission approved very substantial payments of up to £77 per acre for participants in REPS farming eligible commonage lands. The agreement with the Commission provides for a global approach to the problem of overgrazing on commonages, of which supplementary measure A is one element. It also provides for a complementary national scheme, and I am informed that the EU Commission is currently considering proposals from the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gael tacht and the Islands for such a scheme. Following the introduction of the national scheme, it will be a condition of eligibility for my Department's compensatory allowance and premia schemes that farmers with commonage land are participating either in the national scheme or in REPS.

To secure the agreement of the EU Commission to the introduction of supplementary measure A, strict eligibility conditions had to be put in place. Payment may only be made in respect of owned commonage shares over which farming rights are exercised. Payment is expressly prohibited in respect of leased commonage and dormant shares.

On foot of the agreement with the Commission, my Department and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands have put an interim national commonage framework plan in place pending the completion of detailed framework plans for individual commonages. The interim plan required destocking from November-December 1998 equivalent to 30% of mountain ewes for flock holders not already in the REP scheme who use commonage in the six western counties of Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Galway and Kerry, where the overgrazing issue was deemed to be most serious. No increase in stocking intensity is permitted, and where destocking is required this can not be achieved by a re-distribution of stock on other parts of the holding. Where destocking is required the stocking intensity on the entire holding is established and the percentage destocking required is applied only on the commonage area of the holding. However quota rights suppressed as a result of destocking are frozen in the name of the farmer and may be restored at some point in the future if and when regeneration of the commonage occurs.

The preparation of detailed framework plans for individual commonages, which is being done under the supervision of my Department and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, is at an advanced stage. The main aim of these plans will be to set sustainable stocking levels, which will allow for the regeneration of damaged vegetation. Commonage framework plans must be completed in respect of all commonages setting out the environmentally sustainable level of farming activity permitted.

Planting in areas which are protected or qualify for protection under EU Directives 79/409 and 92/43 on the protection of wild birds and the protection of habitats is possible only with the agreement of Dúchas, the statutory body with responsibility for such areas.