Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 26 Jun 2001

Vol. 539 No. 1

Written Answers. - Shannon River Conservation.

Ulick Burke

Ceist:

342 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the position concerning the promised compensation to farmers in the Shannon callows who have lost out financially in complying to a voluntary preservation scheme on their lands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18668/01]

Ulick Burke

Ceist:

343 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the reason she has not met with the farmers involved in the Shannon callows conservation project on their lands despite having agreed to such a meeting to agree procedures and compensation as a follow up to an earlier meeting between the parties at Tullamore; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18669/01]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 342 and 343 together.

As the Deputy is aware, terms of reference were drawn up for a task force to study likely losses for farmers in the Shannon callows resulting from the proposed conservation prescriptions. I am aware that there were subsequent difficulties with these terms of reference and unfortunately some of the farmers initially involved in the pilot study felt unable to allow the appointed consultants to commence the necessary field work.

Recently, it was suggested to me that I involve myself directly in another meeting to progress this matter. My considered view, having regard to the issues to be discussed, was that it would be more useful to arrange for officials of my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development to have a working meeting with the relevant farming representatives. This meeting took place in Portlaoise on Monday, 18 June.

I was pleased to be advised that considerable progress was made at the meeting, and that there have been further contacts with a view to resolving any outstanding issues. I hope that with the agreement of all concerned the task force can carry out its work this summer, and that this will enable the whole matter to be satisfactorily resolved.

I presume that the voluntary preservation scheme to which the Deputy refers is the corncrake grants scheme, administered by Birdwatch Ireland with funding from my Department. I am advised by my Department that in its view, farmers have not lost out financially by participating in this scheme.