Farmer fears over turbary buffer zones

Active turf cutting is still a factor on many commonages.

Placing buffer zones around active turbary areas will result in reduced payments to farmers under a flagship environmental scheme, the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association has claimed.

The issue was also raised in the Dáil where Agriculture, Food and Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue said the move will not have a significant overall impact on payments received by commonage shareholders, although there might be some exceptions.