Annexe 14 - Etude nationale Irlande

EVALUATION DES MESURES
AGRO-ENVIRONNEMENTALES


AGRI/ G4/ 2004







ANNEXE 14 : ETUDE NATIONALE IRLANDE









Novembre 2005





Janet Dwyer and Carol Kambites, Countryside and Community Research Unit
Dunholme Villa, The Park, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 2RH, UK Evaluation of agri-environmental measures - Ireland
TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. AGRI-ENVIRONMENT MEASURES IN IRELAND - TERMINOLOGY.......................... 1
1.1 Terminology........................................................................................................................................ 1
1.2 Brief presentation of the Scheme ...................................................................................................... 1
1.3 Detailed description of the Measures................................................................................................ 2
1.3.1 Compulsory measures under REPS ................................................................................................. 2
1.3.2 Supplementary M ............................................................................................ 3
2. TYPOLOGY OF ACTIONS AND MEASURES ........................................................... 4
3. CONTEXT OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SCHEME ................................................ 6
3.1 History of the Irish approach............................................................................................................ 6
3.2 Main aims of the AEM of the RDR in Ireland................................................................................. 7
3.3 Organisation of scheme implementation.......................................................................................... 8
3.3.1 Planning - Programming.................................................................................................................. 8
3.3.2 Implementation and control ............................................................................................................. 8
3.3.3 Monitoring and control................. 8
3.3.4 Level of development of good agricultural practice documentation................................................ 8
3.4 The level of implementation of the measures................................................................................. 11
4. ANSWER TO EVALUATION QUESTIONS ............................................................. 12
4.1 Theme nº 1: Environmental impacts of agri-environmental measures - Sub-theme nº 1:
biodiversity..................................................................................................................................................... 12
4.1.1 Q 1: To what extent have agro-environmental measures improved or maintained common
biodiversity (species richness)?..................................................................................................... 12
4.1.2 Q.2 To what extent have the agri-environment measures maintained or improved special habitats?
....................................................................................................................................................... 19
4.1.3 Q3 To what extent have the agro-environmental measures maintained or improved genetic
resources by safeguarding endangered animal and plant species? ................................................ 23
4.2 Theme nº 1: Environmental impacts of agri-environmental measures – Sub-theme nº 2:
Natural resources .......................................................................................................................................... 26
4.2.1 Q4 To what extent have agro-environmental measures maintained or improved water quality? .. 26
4.2.2 Q5 To what extent have natural resources been protected (or enhanced) in terms of the quantity of
water resources, as influenced by agri-environment measures?.................................................... 30
4.2.3 Q 6 To what extent has soil quality been maintained or enhanced, and soil erosion been prevented
by agri-environmental measures?.................................................................................................. 30
4.2.4 Q7 to what extent have agri-environmental measures protected or enhanced other environmental
assets ?........................................................................................................................................... 34
4.2.5 Q8 To what extent have agri-environmental measures preserved or improved the rural landscape?
....................................................................................................................................................... 37
4.3 Theme nº 2a: Institutional and contextual issues which determine the success of agri-
environmental policy..................................................................................................................................... 40
4.3.1 Q9 To what degree do the institutional structures and the operational methods at all levels help or
hinder the design of high quality agri-environment schemes? ...................................................... 40
4.3.2 Q 10: To what extent is funding for agri-environmental programmes and measures adequate (e.g.
with respect to the EU contribution, Member State’s budget, Regional budget, payment levels for
farmers, etc.) and how has the level of funding influenced uptake and programme quality ? ...... 44 Evaluation of agri-environmental measures - Ireland
4.3.3 Q11 To what extent are the monitoring, evaluation and supervision of the agro-environmental
measures in place in the Member States fit for the purpose? ........................................................ 45
4.3.4 Q12 To what extent have the degree of application and environmental effectiveness been
influenced by other implementation factors or other relevant factors (such as attitude towards the
agro-environment, knowledge of the agro-environment as all levels with the Member State, the
extent of GAPs, other CAP/EU measures, 5-year minimum contracts, limitation of beneficiaries
to farmers only etc.)....................................................................................................................... 47
4.4 Theme nº 2b: Economic efficiency of measures. Payment mechanism. ...................................... 50
4.4.1 Q13 : Are there examples illustrating the efficiency of design of measures and scheme approach ?
....................................................................................................................................................... 50
4.4.2 Q14: Is the present method of calculation suitable for achieving the desired environmental
outcome ? Do the payment levels reflect the costs incurred and the lost income? When there is an
incentive payment, is it justified? Can improvements in the method of calculation be suggested
which will maintain compatibility with WTO rules? .................................................................... 51
4.5 Theme nº 3: The socio-economic impact of agri-environmental measures................................. 52
4.5.1 Q 15: To what extent have agri-environmental measures provided farmers with opportunity of a
gainful activity (provision of environmental services)? To what extent have they contributed to
enhancing the image of agriculture as a provider of services to society? ..................................... 52
4.6 Theme nº 4: Objectives and targeting of agri-environmental measures 54
4.6.1 Q 16: To what extent agri-environmental measures have been designed with clear environmental
objectives? To what extent have Member states and Regions chosen to target their agri-
environmental measures to areas and topics covered by Community environmental legislation or
objectives?..................................................................................................................................... 54
5. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS........................................................... 56
APPENDICES .......................................................................................................... 58
Annexe 1 : Guides d'entretien pour les études nationales et régionales ................................................... 59
Annex 2 : list of people interviewed ............................................................................................................. 73
Annex 3 : Bibliography ................................................................................................................................. 74

Evaluation of agri-environmental measures - Ireland
LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Agri-environment measures in Ireland............................................................................................................. 2
Table 2. REPS measures - typology............................................................................................................................... 4
Table 3. Definition of Good Farming Practice............................................................................................................. 10
Table 4. REPS Participants, Area and Payment from 01/01-31/12, 2004 ................................