Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1152. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to extend the pilot scheme with regard to pearl mussels to bring in new members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19322/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I presume the Deputy is referring to the Kerry Life scheme.  I am glad to say that under the Locally-Led measure of the Irish Rural Development Programme we have firm plans for the introduction of an extensive new scheme targeting the conservation of the freshwater pearl mussel.  This will focus on a number of key areas which are critical for the survival of the mussel, including a number of areas in Kerry.  While the detail of the new scheme has yet to be worked out, I envisage that it will complement the work of the Kerry Life project and will work closely with that project in many respects.

The first step for my Department is to recruit a dedicated project team capable of delivering this new scheme at local level in a number of different areas across the country.  Once in place this team will begin to design the measure in consultation with all stakeholders, including the local farming communities, and will then directly recruit farmers to the scheme.