Protesting farmers tell Dúchas to keep off lands

THE Irish Farmers Association launched a campaign yesterday to prevent any further access by Dúchas personnel to Special Areas of Conservation.

It claims the lands of 15,000 farmers who own the sites countrywide are threatened with serious devaluation under the SAC scheme.

But the Department of the Environment and Local Government (DELG) said the Government is committed to protect the most important natural areas for future generations.