Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of money that has been allocated to Ireland to implement the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC since the start of implementation. [40077/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My colleague the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr Phil Hogan TD has primary responsibility for the implementation of the Habitats Directive.

As regards funding for the Rural Development Programme for Ireland, an overall amount is allocated to my Department under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development [EAFRD] which may be spent on a menu of rural development measures. Included among these is the Natura measure which provides for compensation to farmers for disadvantages in their farming activities arising out of three Directives, the Habitats Directive, the Wild Birds Directive and the Water Framework Directive.

Under the current Rural Development Financial Plan an indicative amount of €528m has been allocated to Natura and an amount of €1.8bn has been allocated to agri environment. These two amounts are aggregated for spending purposes however as Natura forms an integral part of the REPS and AEOS agri environment schemes. Participation in these schemes is voluntary on the part of farmers and in the light of take up to date an amount of €84.5m approx is expected to have been spent on the Natura element of these schemes under the RDP to the end of this year.