Walks may be closed by farmers

Ireland: Farmers threatened yesterday to close public access walks created under the first Rural Environment Protection Scheme.

IFA Western Committee chairman Con Hickey said it followed the disclosure by Minister Éamon Ó Cuiv that his department will not be paying any money to farmers for the public right to walk on these walkways.

Up to 300 farmers had participated under the REPS 1 public access supplementary measure, but the incentive was withdrawn by the EU Commission for the REPS II scheme.