Farmers and other property owners should be properly compensated when their land is acquired by the State for motorways and other infrastructural developments. But a balance must be struck between the rights of private property and the public interest.
The National Roads Authority has been given a budget by the Government and entrusted with the task of constructing extensive new motorways and dual carriageways under the National Development Plan 2000-2006. It cannot allow the State to be treated as a milch cow when it comes to setting the level of compensation payments. But some farmers - with the active support of the Irish Farmers' Association - appear to have launched a smash and grab raid on the public purse.
Representatives of the IFA would reject that contention. They argue that their members find themselves in a totally new situation because the scale of planned road-building is unprecedented; because there has been serious inflation in land values and delays in the system of processing and settling claims. An estimated 8,000 farmers will be affected by compulsory purchase orders if the planned road system is built. And the president of the IFA, Mr Tom Parlon, was clearly seeking their approval and support earlier this week when he suggested that compensation levels should be doubled from an average of £10,000 to £20,000 an acre.
An increase in the level of road-building is no justification for higher compensation. And while the average cost of farm land nearly doubled, from £2,087 to £3,807 per acre between 1996 and the year 2000, such increases are allowed for in the statutory valuation of land. Where that figure is contested, an independent arbitrator may be requested.
There is no doubt some farmers will suffer badly from the road building programme. But others will experience minor inconvenience. And, given the Government's commitment in the PPF, increased compensation is almost certain to be given.
In that context, the aggressive behaviour of the IFA is badly judged. The employers' organisation, IBEC, has claimed its demands could add £400m to the cost of road-building and force the postponement, or abandonment, of some schemes. Last Tuesday, Mr Parlon advocated the withdrawal of all co-operation by farmers with the compulsory purchase of land for road construction. Such bullying tactics in pursuit of a windfall gain sits badly with an organisation that was so dependent on public goodwill and responsible behaviour during the recent foot-and-mouth outbreak.