The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) has criticised Minister for the Environment John Gormley for designating 169,000 hectares of land for the protection of the Hen Harrier without properly consulting the farmers involved.
Martin Gavin, of the IFA, said the designation would impact on 5,500 farmers whose farming and development plans would be restricted by the designations. He criticised the Minister for imposing a three-month deadline on appeals to the designations. Farmers have until February 8th, 2008 to make an appeal. "IFA believes that farmers should consider the implications of designations that will arise on farming, forestry and wind farm development," he said.
"The payments to farmers for losses incurred in the proposed designated area are not satisfactory, especially for those farmers who will be joining the Reps 4 scheme. The Minister has conveniently ignored a commitment agreed by his counterpart in agriculture, Mary Coughlan, in the Rural Development Plan 2007 - 2013," he said.
He said the plan made a commitment to top-up farming losses if the payment for farming restrictions was greater than that applicable under Rural Environment Protection Scheme (Reps). Mr Gavin said in the Hen Harrier areas, the National Parks Wildlife Scheme, Farm Plan Scheme will pay €350/hectare on up to 40 hectares.
Because this payment was greater than the €282/hectare that applies under Reps 4, farmers should be eligible for a top-up payment of €68/hectare, he said.
The Friends of the Irish Environment said it would challenge the designations in Europe because the Minister is allowing forestry to be planted in six of the areas involved. "This agreement permits a further planting of more than 9,000 hectares in these last strongholds of the Hen Harrier," the group said.