Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 June 2014
119. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the circumstances under which farmers have an entitlement to compensation due to the designation of their land as SAC, SPA or NHA respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27666/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 and the Wildlife Acts, compensation is payable from my Department where a person has been refused consent by me, as Minister, for a prescribed activity within a European site or natural heritage area, which he or she had been undertaking in the five year period prior to the refusal. As the Deputy is aware, a number of compensation schemes have been put in place to this end, including:
- A scheme for those affected by the cessation of turf cutting on a raised bog habitat nominated for designation as special areas of conservation under the EU Habitats Directive or designated as natural heritage areas under the Wildlife Acts;
- A voluntary bog purchase scheme applicable to raised bog special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas. The voluntary bog purchase scheme is closed to new applicants; and
- Small-scale farm plan schemes, which support farmers in adopting appropriate management practices in the Natura 2000 network. It should be noted that the main farm plan scheme operated by my Department is currently closed to new applicants.
While my Department has the lead role in relation to the implementation of the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive, significant funding is provided through the rural development programme, operated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, which provides for a range of supports for farmers, including payments in respect of sites nominated for designation under the Directives. It should be noted that farmers will also be obliged to farm in accordance with the environmental requirements of the farm supports from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
