Need to seek planning permission before reclaiming land ‘ludicrous’

FARM groups have said a new obligation to seek planning permission before reclaiming land runs counter to Ireland’s reputation for environmental excellence, and could slow down succession on the family farm.

IFA president John Bryan said existing EU hedgerow regulations and Ireland’s Wildlife Acts provide sufficient protection for soil and habitats.

He described as “ludicrous and totally disproportionate to the pressures on the environment” the new legislation requiring farmers to apply for permission to county councils and the Department of Agriculture when doing land reclamation, drainage works or removing field boundaries.