Vol. 577 No. 1
195 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the status of discussions with landowners in the Shannon callows; when his Department intends to pay compensation to farmers for the loss in value due to designation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30579/03]
Discussions have been proceeding in a working group on management prescriptions for habitats that occur in the callows, and on the assessment of losses and costs for landowners arising from implementation of the draft prescriptions. The discussions are expected to be completed at a meeting of the working group next month.
Once the management prescriptions are agreed, farmers, other than those who opt for the REPS scheme, can be compensated by my Department for actual costs and losses arising from implementing them.
