Plan to offer farmers fees to allow access to lands

A PROPOSAL that would see farmers giving limited access to their lands in return for upkeep payments has met with a cautious response from groups campaigning for more access to the countryside.

The Irish Farmers’ Association disclosed yesterday that it had got agreement in principle from Minister for Community and Rural Affairs Eamon Ó Cuiv about a national countryside walkways scheme of some 2,000 kilometres.

As many as 5,000 farmers could be encouraged to create and maintain linear and looped routes through their lands, according to the IFA, which suggested fees of €6 per metre at an overall cost to the State of €12 million-€15 million each year.