Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I got a lot of training from the Deputy's brother. We have made progress on EU-related programmes. I know the Deputy has an interest in the progress of the rural development programme. We front-loaded money into the rural development programmes in the Estimates for 2013 on the basis that we can get a refund of 85% rather than a refund of 55% from the European Union. We are getting more bang for our buck. That is working well. It is one of the few areas where we have money and we encourage Leader groups and communities to advance their projects. Axis has more applications than money at the moment.

My Department has a very good relationship with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I refer to recent announcements about the environment which take into account the bad weather conditions which affect the farming community. We have approval to extend the slurry spreading season because animals have been housed for a large part of the summer and we did not want to cause an animal welfare issue. We are very conscious that when putting robust systems in place it is essential to avoid causing a nitrates problem. The negotiations on the Common Agricultural Policy will include the rural development element. As part of what is called the greening of the CAP, I hope there will be additional funding for the environmental provisions which will be administered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine through the AEOS, agri-environmental options scheme.

The special areas of conservation, SAC, are a matter for the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Deenihan. This relates to funding for the turf-cutting season and there are many more restrictions other than the 53 SACs. The question of providing alternative opportunities for people to cut for domestic purposes on different bogs is a matter for the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Some progress has been made. I wish to pay tribute to Mr. Conor Skehan who has played a leading role in bringing people together. I hope this will be continued by Mr. Séamus Boland who has assumed the position of chairman of the Peatlands Council.