Leased commonage payment appeal

Ireland: IFA National Hill Committee chairman Michael Comiskey has called on Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan to instruct her department to allow leased commonage to be eligible for REPS/SMA payments.

He said the decision to allow REPS/SMA payment on leased commonage does not require EU approval, merely involving a notification to planners. “Leased commonage should be treated in the same way as a five-year lease on lowland areas.”

Mr Comiskey said the time is opportune for such a ruling as the REPS/SMA payment level of €242/ha is being secured through the submission to the EU Star Committee over the coming months.