Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 1876: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to ensure State lands under his control are maintained in a manner similar to those maintained by farmers in the REP scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2436/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS), operated by the Department of Agriculture and Food is designed to encourage farmers to carry out farming activities in an environmentally friendly manner. Most of the land that is under the responsibility of my Department is in the form of National Parks and Nature Reserves and as such it is managed for nature conservation purposes rather than agriculture. The standards by which these properties are managed are set out in the guidelines of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and in national and European legislation on wildlife, habitats and species. Certain lands under the control of my Department are used for agriculture and are managed to organic farm standards which would be a higher standard than required under REPS (other than in the case of an organic farm).