Shannon farmers seek restoration of wildlife service plans

Farmers on environmentally sensitive lands along the Shannon estuary are seeking restoration of ‘Farm Plan’ schemes compensating them for restricting their land use.

The restrictions are intended to protect endangered wildlife and plants. The farmers in Galway, Offaly, Roscommon, and Westmeath signed up to 15-year Farm Plans with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in 2006, but these plans were stopped in 2012. The disputed area relates to up to 105 NPWS farm plans.

“The bogs were in crisis in 2012, so they pulled our funding and put it into the bogs,” said Galway farmer Charlie Killeen, chair of the Shannon Action Group. “It was envisaged that the farm plans would solve any problems relating to the hen harrier scheme. We’re quite willing to co-operate with any measures that need to be introduced. We’re not spraying on these lands; we’re still farming to the guidelines. We are guardians of the land.”