Written answers
Tuesday, 23 May 2006
Department of Agriculture and Food
Rural Environment Protection Scheme
9:00 pm
Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 383: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will review the compensation offer made to hill sheep farmers in REPS in order to destock their flocks by a further40%; if they should not be treated in a similar manner to those outside the REPS scheme; the discussions her Department has had with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19687/06]
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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All hill sheep farmers in REPS are paid in accordance with their REPS contracts. The REP scheme Terms and Conditions provide that REPS farmers must comply fully with Commonage Framework Plan requirements and consequently no further REPS payments are due for destocking.
The question of additional benefits for actions over and above the requirements of the Commonage Framework Plans is a matter for the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I am aware that because of a European Court of Justice judgment, that Department is introducing additional management requirements in the Owenduff/Nephin Beg complex and that my officials have given advice on an appropriate level of payment to REPS farmers to compensate them for the actions now required of them that are not covered by the REPS payment.
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