Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the review of the commonage framework plans; the way the review will be conducted; the way the review will impact on persons in the Cooley peninsula, County Louth and hill farmers across the State; if he plans to issue letters to persons in relation to the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53278/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Commonage Framework Plans, first published in 2002, have been reviewed to take account of the current vegetative condition of commonages nationally. This review which will replace the Commonage Framework Plans has been carried out by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in co-operation with my Department. The review was carried out on a commonage LPIS parcel basis and sets a minimum and maximum number of ewe equivalents (EE) required to graze the commonage parcel to ensure that it is maintained in Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC). I am currently considering an implementation plan to take account of the changed stocking levels. My Department is trying to reconcile the reality of commonages with the EU requirements of GAEC. I will work with the farmers, farm organisations and others to design a practical solution.