Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 357: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to Parliamentary Question No. 115 of 24 September 2009, the funds provided by the EU regarding the establishment of Natura 2000 sites; the breakdown of the funding between REP scheme and non-REP scheme farmers; the funding available to non-REP scheme farmers up to 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46683/09]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 370: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to Parliamentary Question No 115 of 24 September 2009, the way provision is to be made for participants in REPS 3 with land designated under a Natura 2000 site if REPS 4 is closed to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47151/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 357 and 370 together.

Under the rural development programme 2007-2013 (RDP) EU funding amounting to €220m was allocated for designated Natura 2000 sites. This amount is co-funded by national exchequer funding at the rate of 45%. To avail of this funding a beneficiary was required to be actively farming a designated Natura 2000 site and participating in the rural environmental protection scheme (REPS 4). In July 2009 the REPS 4 scheme, including Natura, was closed to new applicants, but payments under this scheme will continue until the end of the current programme and existing beneficiaries will continue to receive their individual payments until their contracts expire.

A Natura 2000 measure with an indicative allocation of €12m is proposed under the revised RDP and will be funded from the modulated and European Economic Recovery Plan funds. This will complement the proposed new agri environment scheme which will also be funded by modulation and European Economic Recovery Plan funds. The Natura 2000 measure will be open to all farmers including those whose REPS contracts have concluded. Both proposed new measures await approval by the EU Commission.