Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 512: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the level of compensation available to sheep farmers in the Nephin Beg area, Newport, Co. Mayo as a consequence of having to take sheep off the mountains due to ecological and environmental damage; if her attention has been drawn to the different levels being proposed for those who are currently in the REP scheme and for those who are not; the level of payments; her views on whether different rates of payment create an inequality for sheep farmers on the same mountain range; the action she will take to rectify this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27891/06]

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.

The question of additional benefits for actions over and above the requirements of the Commonage Framework Plans for farmers not in REPS is also a matter for the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I have met farmers from the area concerned and they outlined their position to me in detail. I have since conveyed the views of this group to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.