Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason he has deviated from the whole farm approach in the new agri-environment options scheme on lowland farms. [12023/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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To secure the agreement of the European Commission to the new agri-environment scheme, it was necessary to design it for land other than Natura or commonage as a menu of closely targeted actions which would contribute in a measurable and verifiable way towards the targets of biodiversity, water quality and climate change as set out in the CAP Health Check. It was not possible to negotiate a whole-farm approach for the new scheme. For Natura and commonage land, the new scheme includes a requirement to have sustainable management plans drawn up reflecting the particular environmental conditions of each such area and any restrictions on farming activity.