by Alan Jacques
LIMERICK farmers claiming to have suffered a massive devaluation of their land as a result of hen harrier designation say they are determined to fight for a fair deal.
Limerick representative on the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA), Seamus Sherlock, believes it is high time that the Government faced up to its responsibilities and put in place a separate, stand-alone compensation scheme for hen harrier designation.
“A scheme must cover every hectare affected by the designation. It is unacceptable that many farmers have been left high and dry for years without any compensation while enduring huge restrictions on the use of the land in question,” said Mr Sherlock.
“At present, the most a farmer with a hen harrier designation can hope for is a payment under GLAS which only covers a maximum of nineteen hectares. This is not acceptable particularly in light of the blanket ban on afforestation which has severely impacted the value of designated land,” the ICSA rural development vice-chairman explained.
Mr Sherlock also maintains that “bureaucrats need to come to terms with the fact that if they force people off the land then there will be no future for the her harrier either”.
