Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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91. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the competent statutory authority, was consulted prior to the decision to re-allocate over €400 million in 2009, originally earmarked for NATURA land under Measure 213 in the last round of the Common Agricultural Policy; if the National Parks and Wildlife Service approved same in writing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18926/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under the initial Financial Plan for the Rural Development Programme 2007 – 2013 (RDP) an indicative amount of €528m was originally allocated to Natura 2000. The Natura measure provides for compensation to farmers for disadvantages in their farming activities arising out of 3 Directives – the Habitats Directive, the Wild Birds Directive and the Water Framework Directive. Under the 2007-2013 RDP, Natura 2000 forms an integral part of the REPS and AEOS agri-environment schemes and applicants with Natura designated land are prioritised under AEOS. Participation in agri-environment schemes, including Natura, is voluntary on the part of farmers and expenditure is therefore demand led. Actual demand under the Natura measure during the 2007 – 2013 Programme proved to be significantly less than had been provided for. Therefore, the financial provision for Natura was revised to reflect the actual spend. This involved the reallocation of funds across the agri-environment and Less Favoured Areas schemes in Axis 2 of the RDP without changing the overall spend under that Axis.

The members of the Rural Development Programme Monitoring Committee were informed of the proposed amendments in April 2013 and asked for observations. The issue was included on the agenda of a RDP Monitoring Committee meeting July 2013, where the issue was discussed and the amendments agreed by those present. The National Parks and Wildlife Service is a member of this Monitoring Committee. Amendments made to the Rural Development Programme 2007 – 2013 were processed in full accordance with the regulatory and legislative process in place.

While money was transferred from the Natura measure, it should be noted that expenditure under the agri-environment budget measures in the 2007-2013 RDP also complemented and incentivised farmers with Natura land to engage with the agri-environment scheme. In the new 2014-2020 RDP, Natura land is deemed a Priority Environmental Asset under the recently launched GLAS agri-environment scheme and thus expenditure on Natura lands will be continued and enhanced in the new programming period.