The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) says there are restrictions in the existing payment arrangements in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan for designated land. The association believes that this is inadequate and does not address the issue of loss of income and devaluation of land values. IFA Hill Committee chair, Cáillin Conneely says “the Common Agricultural Policy imposes additional costs on farmers and in many cases can make it difficult to meet cross compliance requirements.”
At a meeting of the Designated Areas Monitoring Committee this week, which was attended by Heritage Minister Malcolm Noonan, the Hill Farming chairman said the reintroduction of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Farm Plan Scheme was a positive first step. However, Conneely says that greater funding is needed to expand the number of farm plans on the scheme, with increased payment rates to reflect the additional costs and burden on farmers whose land is designated.
Meanwhile the IFA is calling for the introduction of an independent arbitration scheme to determine the loss of value or impact on business caused by designations. The association says a budget must be in place to cover the costs associated with it. There are 38 Activities Requiring Consent (ARCs) associated with designations, ranging from reclamation, drainage works, topping or clearing scrub and reseeding. But the IFA says the ARCs impose extra costs and unnecessary bureaucracy on 35,000 farmers affected by designations.
Cáillin Conneely says there is confusion among government departments as to who actually grants permission for ARCs carried out in designated areas. “A one-stop shop structure must be put in place to deal with these appeals, ensure fair play for farmers, and to minimise delays,” he stated.