Vol. 537 No. 5
461 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if the framework documents will be available by the end of June 2001; the amount by which farmers will have to de-stock; and the way in which these farmers will be compensated for the loss of ewe premiums and for the loss of the lambs if they have to de-stock. [17177/01]
The preparation of commonage framework plans being carried out jointly by my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development is well advanced. Work has been completed on plans covering almost 350,000 hectares of commonage, or 71% of the total. For upland commonage in the six western counties to which the interim 30% de-stocking was applied, work is 90% complete. We are not in a position to publish plans until the plans have been completed for all these commonages. Due to delays arising from the foot and mouth disease crisis this is not likely to be achieved by the end of June 2001.
Under the commonage framework plans each area is individually assessed to establish its ecologically sustainable stocking levels. Since conditions will vary from place to place, it is not possible to give a general statement as to the amount, if any, each farmer will have to de-stock. In the six western counties already subject to 30% de-stocking, the framework plans may justify a restoration of quota in particular areas, while requiring greater de-stocking in others.
One option for farmers who have to de-stock is to be compensated through REPS. Those who are not in REPS will be compensated through the complementary national compensation scheme to be administered by my Department. Compensation through this scheme will be based on actual losses incurred because of the de-stocking, including the loss of premia and the value of sales.
