Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 498: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his Department will provide matching funding to the €3 million provided by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for the roll-out of conservation practices developed by a project (details supplied) to administer and research the results of the new project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36908/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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My Department has been the lead partner of this 5-year pilot project, which has promoted farming for conservation in the Burren. The project received 75% funding from the EU LIFE Programme and my Department has contributed the remaining 25%, with additional technical assistance and expertise being provided by Teagasc.

The project was designed to deliver a practical blueprint for the sustainable management of habitats protected under the EU Habitats Directive, by the farmers who own the lands implementing a range of diverse and practical farming measures. The project has been highly successful and is due to come to an end early next year.

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and I agreed a Memorandum of Understanding for the practical extension of the pilot into the wider area of the Burren, and he has undertaken to provide €3 million from EU funding, to be spent on core activities by farmers.

My Department is considering how best to support the necessary work of evaluation, administration, monitoring and research and expects to contribute €500,000 for this purpose. The precise arrangements will be finalised before the pilot project concludes.