Commonage appeals agreement

Agreement has been reached between the Department of the Environment and REPS planners, which will result in farmers’ costs being fully covered for appeals lodged for commonage framework plans, according to the IFA.

Hill Farming chairman Michael Comiskey said he was satisfied the matter had been addressed as the standard €1,300 payable to planners to do appeals on behalf of farmers was not adequate.

Under the arrangements, he said a standard €1,300 payment will apply on commonage appeals up to 900 ha. For commonages greater than this size, a payment of €4/ha will apply.