Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 25 together.

Over-grazing of livestock has given rise to environmental problems, particularly loss of vegetation and soil erosion in commonages. Damage to the habitat of the red grouse in the Owenduff Nephin Beg complex special protection area in County Mayo has been the subject of a continuing infringement case, under the birds directive, taken against Ireland by the EU Commission in the European Court of Justice. The reasoned opinion of 18 October 2006, issued by the Commission, calls on Ireland to implement measures and demonstrate improvements in this area and in other commonages.

My Department, in co-operation with the Department of Agriculture and Food and the European Commission, has been working to resolve the issue of appropriate commonage management, which is made complex by the multiple shareholdings involved. The two Departments have put in place a number of measures which are directed at meeting EU requirements fully. These measures include full rather that partial de-stocking under the commonage framework plans; a requirement for participation in REPS or the NPWS farm plans by farmers in the area; guidelines to planners on appropriate carrying capacities for commonages; and a special closed period for all sheep farming on the Owenduff Nephin Beg commonage for five months of the year, that is, from November to December and from mid-February to mid-May. Farmers will be paid compensation for additional costs arising from the removal of sheep for this closed period.

In addition, my Department is increasing the monitoring of the condition of commonages and privately owned lands in designated areas. Where appropriate, it will take the necessary enforcement measures to secure compliance under the requirements of the directive. A national survey of the red grouse is also underway.

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