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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Jun 2001

Vol. 537 No. 5

Written Answers. - Ewe Cull Scheme.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

213 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he has concerns regarding the validity of the 1998 cull ewe scheme in view of the recent comments by an EU Commissioner that the scheme was considered as a national aid. [16638/01]

The position is that by decision dated 30 May 2000 the Commission found that the aid scheme implemented by Ireland under the ewe supplementary measure 1998 was compatible with the Common Market regime.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

214 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the exact number of ewes expected to be removed from overgrazed commonages, following discussions with his Department and the EU Commission; and when this will be implemented. [16639/01]

The agreement with the European Commission leading to the approval of supplementary measure A of the rural environment protection scheme provides for detailed commonage framework plans to be drawn up for all commonage land. These plans are being prepared under the supervision of my Department and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. The main aim of these plans will be to set sustainable stocking levels which will allow for the regeneration of damaged vegetation.

The preparation of the 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.

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

The agreement with the Commission provides for a global approach to the problem of overgrazing on commonages, of which measure A of the REP scheme is one element. It also provides for a complimentary national scheme. I am informed that the European Commission is currently considering proposals from the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht 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 participate either in the national scheme or in REPS.
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