15 Ean 2013, 17:07
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine today heard a presentation from the Burren Farming for Conservation Programme, which was described as a simple, fair and flexible model which helped support the heritage, environment and communities of the Burren.
15 January 2013
Addressing the Committee were Dr Brendan Dunford and Dr Sharon Parr of the BFCP, Michael Davoren of Burren IFA and James Moran of IT Sligo. The programme, which commenced in 2010 and is currently in its final year, is jointly funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the National Parks and Wildlife Service at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
Chairman of the Committee Andrew Doyle TD says: “Committee Members were hugely impressed with the common-sense approach the Programme has taken since its establishment. We thank the witnesses for an enlightening presentation on how the Programme has contributed to the sustainability of the unique Burren region. In fulfilling the Programme's requirements, local farmers have repaired 56 km of broken wall, removed over 160 hectares of scrub and installed 450 locally made gates. We heard that the Programme has a 90 percent approval rating from participants, due to the farmer-led approach and a simple scoring system which forms the basis of payments.
“The engagement will inform upcoming Committee meetings in which the use of commonage lands will be considered. While just 5 percent of the lands of the Burren are commonage lands, Dr Dunford’s presentation was a valuable opportunity for our Committee to explore the potential features of a management framework for commonage lands. The programme is held in high regard Europe Union-wide, and it therefore makes absolute sense to explore how similar programmes might be rolled out within other Special Areas of Conservation nationally. This simple, practical and effective model will provide the Committee with much food for thought in our contribution to negotiations on CAP, particularly as it comprises elements worthy of consideration for Pillar II funding.”
Ends
For further information contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 6949926
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine - Membership
Deputies:
Tom Barry, Fine Gael
Pat Deering, Fine Gael (Vice-Chair)
Martin Ferris, Sinn Féin
Andrew Doyle, Fine Gael (Chair)
Martin Heydon, Fine Gael
Colm Keaveney, Labour
Michael McNamara, Labour
Eamon Ó Cuiv, Fianna Fáil
Thomas Pringle, Independent
Senators:
Michael Comiskey, Fine Gael
Paschal Mooney, Fianna Fáil
Pat O’Neill, Fine Gael
Mary Ann O’Brien, Independent
Brian Ó Domhnaill, Fianna Fáil
Susan O’Keeffe, Labour