Written answers

Thursday, 1 May 2008

Department of Agriculture and Food

Rural Environment Protection Scheme

5:00 pm

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will introduce a €2000 top-up for hill sheep farmers in designated areas as a supplementary payment measure in REP scheme four in conjunction with the new mixed grazing measure; if meetings have taken place with the Irish Farmers Association and her Department in this regard; the details of those meetings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16965/08]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The special agri-environmental arrangements in the Owenduff/Nephin Beg Special Area of Conservation arise from a judgment of the European Court of Justice in 2002 and are a matter in the first instance for the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. In November 2006, that Department, in consultation with my Department and local landowners, introduced these measures which included a five-month off-wintering period. Farmers within this region who were in existing REPS 2 and 3 contracts were paid an extra €2,000 per annum in order to compensate them for additional restrictions imposed upon their farming activities, above and beyond those detailed in their existing REPS contracts.

As was noted at a meeting this week between the two Departments, the IFA and a representative group of local sheep farmers, the increased payment rates negotiated with the European Commission for REPS 4 were justified on the basis that they covered the full range of constraints on farming activity that might apply to participating farmers. There did not therefore appear to be any basis for an additional payment in REPS 4.

The mixed grazing supplementary measure in REPS 4 is not related to the special agri-environmental arrangements in this area. It is however available to the farmers in question if they join REPS 4, though it is payable on "green" land only and not on commonage.

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