Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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1447. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding that was sought for designated areas by her Department in the pre-budget submission for 2019; the number of persons that benefit from the NPWS farm plan scheme; if this scheme will be reinstated; her views on whether farmers with designated lands have been encumbered without financial reward for the protective management of these lands since 1996; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36456/18]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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My Department is currently it the midst of the Estimates 2019 process and it would be premature to indicate any funding amounts while these matters are under discussion.

The Farm Plan Scheme is currently operational, albeit on a limited basis, for farmers whose management of designated areas incurs costs or actions over and above payments received through other schemes, and it is my intention to increase the scope of the Scheme on a targeted and prioritised basis as funding permits. It must also be recognised that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is operating many targeted Locally Led Schemes as well as specific, and substantially-funded, European Innovation Partnership schemes for farmers in areas designated for Hen harrier and Freshwater Pearl Mussel interests. The DAFM GLAS scheme has provided prioritised entry into GLAS and elevated GLAS payments in certain designated areas. It is important that the Farm Plan Scheme is coherent with these schemes and the Basic Payment Scheme.