Ms Finola Moylette:

A range of topics have been covered. We are at the very early stages of the negotiations on the Common Agricultural Policy programmes. As far as I am aware, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine which takes the lead has recently instigated its ex-ante evaluation in advance of the next programme and has begun very tentative discussions with various bodies. To date, we have had no direct discussions with the Department on commonage and rural recreation and so on but no doubt that will happen in the future. As part of Comhairle na Tuaithe we will engage with the Department on these issues.

As far as I am aware, Mountaineering Ireland has a proposal on the potential to introduce a scheme similar to an element of REPS 1. That is at the very early stages. At this point, I cannot say what will happen.

Insurance is a major issue in that there is a perception by land owners who may see a threat to their livelihood from silly claims for compensation and the like. We are working with all the organisations on Comhaire na Tuaithe to try to iron out all of these issue. We are trying to make progress on an indemnity scheme. We are trying to put in place a pilot scheme in the Macgillycuddy's Reeks area but we have come to the conclusion that a pilot scheme for a single mountain is not practical and we need to look at the reeks in the round because there are multiple access routes and all sorts of different approaches to it. We are looking at a wider scheme but as a precursor to a national scheme across the board. If we can put an indemnity scheme in place in that area, it probably will solve many of the worries and issues around access to land in general. The bottom line for farmers and landowners is that they are worried about insurance claims against them. They are not particularly against access as such but would like it to be structured in a way that it would not impinge on their livelihood's or what he or she does.

Comhairle na Tuaithe is working with many groups. My colleague, Mr. Des Moore will give an update on the North Kerry line.