Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 464: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the details of the National Parks and Wildlife Service farm plan scheme for 2008; the level of compensation farmers will receive under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16089/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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My Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Farm Plan Scheme was launched in February 2006. It pays farmers and landholders for losses incurred as a result of restrictions due to the designation of their lands as Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protected Areas or Natural Heritage Areas. This scheme is available as an alternative to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's REPS scheme. It differs from REPS in that REPS is a whole-farm scheme while the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme pays for the high nature value portion of the farm only. Each NPWS Farm Plan Scheme is drawn up by an approved planner and is specific to the farm involved. Contracts are for five years. Rates of payment vary depending on the particular environmental conditions on each farm. In certain instances, such as meadow management for corncrakes, there are standard payment rates per hectare, but in most cases, the amount payable is calculated, on a plan by plan basis, as a combination of income foregone and/or the costs of carrying out the plan. The average annual individual payment made under the scheme is some €4,300 with over €800,000 paid out to date.