Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 379: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will clarify the regulations for sheep grazing on the national park at Ballycroy in County Mayo after of November 2011; the areas of the national park that will be open for grazing by name, after that date, those that will be closed for grazing after that date by name and the stocking requirements for each area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26979/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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1The grazing package that regulates sheep grazing in the Owenduff-Nephinbeg Complex SPA – jointly administered by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food – has been in place for the past five years, and is scheduled to terminate on the 31st October 2011. Relevant lands contained in Ballycroy National Park are included in the grazing package. The package has delivered significant vegetative recovery to the SPA in this time.

After the 31st October, farmers in many of the townlands in the Owenduff-Nephinbeg Complex will have the freedom to farm within an allocated sustainable stocking number range. Each farmer will be given both a minimum and maximum number of stock that can be held. For most farmers, this will result in an increase in the allowed grazing number. Column one of the following table, sets out the townlands to which this regime applies.

There is a need for a continuing restriction for a further two years in identified areas of the Complex that have not recovered at the same rate as other areas. For farmers who farm in the restricted areas – whether at townland level or a part thereof – there will be a continuing requirement to off-winter and farm numbers below the undamaged sustainable stocking level.

Farmers who are affected by the ongoing restriction are required to participate in an agri-environment scheme for a further two years. Columns two and three of the table outline the townlands, whether whole or in part, that will incur a continuing restriction.

My Department will write to each farmer in the Owenduff-Nephinbeg Complex over the coming weeks, and in advance of the 31st October deadline, explaining the new stocking regime and informing each of them of the new stocking numbers that individually apply.

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