Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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1036. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her policy on encouraging conservation; the incentives that are in place for landowners to set aside appropriate land exclusively for the use of conservation of wildlife; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1375/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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One of my Department's key priorities is the maintenance of natural habitats and species in special areas of conservation, special protection areas and natural heritage areas. In that context, my aim is to continue to encourage and support nature conservation to the greatest degree possible.

In accordance with the relevant legislation, certain activities in sites designated for nature conservation may only be undertaken with my consent, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Compensation may be payable where a person has been refused consent by me for a prescribed activity within a designated site that he or she had been undertaking in the five year period prior to the refusal.

However, compensation or incentive schemes have generally been put in place, where required, without the need to undergo a formal process under the relevant legislation. Such schemes include:

- A comprehensive compensation scheme for those affected by the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog habitat;

- A voluntary bog purchase scheme; and

- A farm plan scheme to support farmers in adopting appropriate management practices in the Natura 2000 network.

The voluntary bog purchase scheme and the farm plan scheme are closed to new applicants.

It is essential, in my view, that, wherever possible, use is made of opportunities for co-funding from the EU. Therefore, while my Department has the lead role in relation to the implementation of the EU Habitats and Birds Directives, significant funding is provided through the rural development programme, operated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. This programme provides for a range of supports for farmers, including payments in respect of sites nominated for designation or designated in accordance with the Directives.