Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1469: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will review the destocking requirements of the hill sheep farmers in the Connemara area in view of the fact that such measures will lead to undergrazing of the lands. [30466/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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My colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and I are implementing new grazing initiatives in the North Connemara area from 1 November 2008. These measures are necessary and are designed to address ongoing overgrazing in two specific Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), namely the Twelve Bens/Garraun Complex and Maumturk Mountains SACs.

Following scientific assessment of the condition of these SACs, it was deemed necessary to introduce grazing regimes that go beyond the destocking requirements set out in the original Commonage Framework Plan. These measures were discussed in detail with farming representatives over several months and an agreement was reached on a scheme to address the overgrazing problem. These areas will be monitored with a view to preventing further overgrazing or undergrazing in the future.