Incomes lost due to area being protected, TD claims

Small farmers in western Duhallow are suffering loss of income as most of the area is a designated special area of conservation, a TD has claimed.

In a Dáil question, Cork North West Fine Gael TD Áine Collins claimed these farmers cannot plant trees, put up wind turbines, or draw hen harrier subsidies as this scheme is closed.

Heritage Minister Jimmy Deenihan said the area concerned is the Stack’s to Mullaghareirk Mountains, West Limerick Hills, and the Mount Eagle Special Protection Area (SPA).