Michael Ring
Ceist:378 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo can increase sheep quota. [2754/02]
Written Answers. - Ewe Premium Quota.
Commonage framework plans are currently being prepared and when finalised, subject to individual agri-environmental plans, the maximum number of sheep that can be maintained by individual farmers on their farms as a whole and on their commonage land will be established. In the meantime, sheep numbers may not be increased on farms that include commonage land. This restriction applies to all farms with commonage land, including those where the farmer is participating in the rural environment protection scheme, REPS, and regardless of whether his existing REPS plan allows more sheep to be maintained than his present number. As the farm of the person named includes commonage land, he cannot receive an allocation of ewe premium quota from the 2002 national reserve nor may he purchase or lease additional quota for 2002.