Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 189: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will introduce a €2,000 top-up for hill sheep farmers in designated areas as a supplementary payment measure for farmers who are in REP scheme four, similar to what applied to farmers in the REP schemes two and three; if meetings have taken place with the Irish Farmers Association and his Department in this regard; the details of those meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16966/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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In November 2006, my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, introduced, in consultation with local landowners in the Owenduff/Nephinbeg Special Area of Conservation in County Mayo a series of agri-environmental measures which were required to comply with a judgement of the European Court of Justice in 2002. These measures included a 5 month off-wintering period to address the damage caused by over-grazing. Farmers within this region who were in existing REPS 2 and 3 contracts receive an extra payment of €2,000 in order to compensate them for additional costs imposed upon their farming activities, above and beyond those detailed in their existing REPS contracts.

As was indicated at a meeting earlier this week between the two Departments, the IFA and a representative group of local sheep farmers, the increased payment rates negotiated for REPS 4 were justified to the European Commission by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on the basis that they covered the full range of agri-environmental measures and associated costs that might apply to participating farmers. There did not therefore appear to be any basis for an additional payment in REPS 4.