Written answers

Tuesday, 28 March 2006

Department of Agriculture and Food

Rural Environment Protection Scheme

11:00 pm

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 341: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason sheep farmers in the Ballycroy, Tiernaur, Bangor and Keenagh areas of County Mayo are being asked to remove stock for six months of the year and to destock up to 70%, when this will mean the total extinction of their farming livelihoods; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the overwhelming majority of those farmers are already involved in the REP scheme and have already heavily destocked in recent times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11983/06]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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This situation pertains to the implementation of the wild birds directive and, as such, is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Owenduff and Nephin Beg complex, which includes the area in question, have been designated by that Department under both the wild birds and habitats directives.

The European Commission secured a judgment against Ireland in the European Court of Justice in June 2002. The case, which was focused on the Owenduff and Nephin Beg area of County Mayo, was taken under the wild birds directive and was about the extent to which the habitat of the red grouse, an annexed species, was compromised by the overgrazing of sheep on commonage. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government was the lead Department in responding to the court proceedings. Following the judgment against Ireland, a reassessment of the commonage took place, which indicated that the actions taken to deal with overgrazing, involving partial destocking in 2002 under the commonage framework plans, had not been enough to allow the habitat to regenerate. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is, therefore, required to take further steps if Ireland is to avoid a large fine.

Destocking under the commonage framework plans was capped at 60% when it was first put into effect. It is now clear, however, that the destocking recommendations must be implemented in full. This will affect approximately 50% of the area in question, where the destocking requirement in the framework plans is greater than 60%. I understand that the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, following consultation with farming representatives, have also advised it will be necessary to have an annual period of total destocking if this area is to regenerate.

That Department has notified the European Commission in February of Ireland's intention to implement the full recommended destocking in the commonage framework plans. It has also informed the Commission that it will require farmers to take all sheep off the commonage for a five month period each year, comprising the months of November and December and the period from mid-February to mid-May.

Many farmers in this area are in REPS, a condition of which is that they must comply with the commonage framework plans. However, the complete removal of sheep for a five month period is additional to REPS requirements and the farmers are entitled to be compensated for it separately by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Farmers who are not in REPS may seek compensation both for the destocking and for the five month no grazing period from that Department under the national scheme operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

REPS is a voluntary scheme and will continue to make a positive contribution to specific environmental objectives. It will continue to complement the actions the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government are taking to deal with this serious situation. It is in the interests of all farmers to ensure that only environmentally sustainable farming practices are carried out on the site because, otherwise there is a risk that payments which are directly linked to environmental benefits will be brought into question.

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