Protesting farmers tell Dúchas to keep off lands
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.
Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas for Birds are an important part of this process, it said.
The IFA campaign commenced in the Shannon Callows areas stretching from Longford to the northern shores of Lough Derg and will be extended to all other sites.
IFA President John Dillon said Environment Minister Martin Cullen’s recent actions in designating further sites, while sensitive negotiations were taking place, was a breach of faith.
“Farmers now have no other choice but to prevent access by Dúchas on to their lands until meaningful procedures are put in place in regard to proper notification and making good the income and development losses on lands which are designated.
“Current compensation levels are inadequate to meet the losses arising from farming and planning restrictions as a result of a designation,” he said.
Mr Dillon said Dúchas have already breached an earlier agreement by designating over 9% of the land area of the State and IFA members in these areas have had enough of broken promises.
When SACs were introduced in 1997, the then minister with responsibility gave a commitment that only 5% of the land area would be designated.
“We now know this is not the case and over 9% of land has an environmental designation with all of the resultant restrictions on land use,” he said.
Mr Dillon said a recent DELG statement that more land is to be designated, including raised bogs and river margins, before the year end is totally unacceptable and will be resisted.
Responding to the IFA protest, the DELG said the minister had issued a proposal on November 18 in relation to the Middle Shannon Callows as a Special Protection Area for Birds, and requires full consultation with the public and with landowners before he makes any final designation.
“The consultation process is now under way with all the interested parties. The department is disappointed that the IFA disengaged from this process and would urge them to re-enter the consultative process as soon as possible,” it said.
