Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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670. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she is considering a farm level scheme with a view to work towards restoring the capital value of farm land to the level that existed prior to designation, that is, special areas of conservation, special protection areas and natural heritage areas. [48414/18]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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My Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine are currently in discussions with farming representatives in relation to designated areas, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments in Natura 2000 lands and payments coming from the national exchequer, including via the NPWS farm plan scheme.  The farmer organisations have also raised the issue of devaluation of Natura lands and the increased administrative burdens relating to designations.

Funding for the Natura 2000 network is currently available from existing financial instruments, as foreseen in Article 8 of the Habitats Directive.  This includes, but is not limited to, CAP funding.  My Department has access only to national exchequer funding and at present this funding is limited.  

I understand that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine will consider the CAP funding priorities to be included in the CAP Strategic Plan for Ireland in the next operating period.  It is expected that all relevant competent authorities, economic and social partners and civil society will have a role in inputting to the CAP Strategic Plan. In the context of funding for farmers for Natura 2000 management, ongoing discussions with the farming organisation may inform the types of payments that could be considered in the next operating period, via CAP co-financed payments and through other funding instruments.  I understand that there are options in the proposed CAP architecture that include eco-schemes under Pillar 1 and agri-environment/climate schemes under Pillar 2.