Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 14 Feb 2002

Vol. 548 No. 4

Written Answers. - Special Areas of Conservation.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

188 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the evaluation of the impact of special areas of conservation with particular reference to the likely effect on the income of those living in rural Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5224/02]

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

Full compensation will be paid for any losses incurred or profit foregone as a result of the designation of any area as a special area of conservation.

Farming conditions have been agreed with the farming bodies for a number of specific habitats within SACs. These conditions set down detailed prescriptions on the use of SACs for the necessary protection of habitats and species for each identified habitat type. Conditions for additional habitats are being prepared and will be available to all interested parties on completion. Where these conditions result in restrictions to existing farming practises, compensation will be paid for any resultant loss of income. This compensation is available through the rural environment protection scheme – REPS – as administered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, or through a scheme administered by Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department. Under the latter scheme compensation will be paid for all actual losses incurred, unlike REPS, where compensation is area based.

With regard to turfcutting in SACs, I have agreed that cutting for domestic purposes may continue up to 2008 in areas where significant damage will not be caused to the bogs, and I have introduced a comprehensive scheme to ensure that adequate compensation is available to people who cease cutting.