Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, and I have been engaged at a personal and ministerial level on this issue for the past two years. I am concerned that people who live in designated areas should be properly compensated. Compensation should accompany designation and I have emphasised that aspect at national and European level. There is an opportunity to deal with the issue through the rural development programme and we must not miss out on it to ensure that those people who are restricted in farming practices, who cannot plant trees and who may have to destock in some cases, are adequately compensated. The discussions are taking place. As Deputies are aware the RDP proposal is out for consultation at this time. It is important those people who are interested in this area would forward their own submissions. As the Deputy is aware SACs and SPAs are designated by European law. Therefore a change in designation is quite complex.

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