SPAs and farmers losing out under present grant allocation system - Sheahan

CONNOLLY, Ireland - Sept. 9, 2013 - PRLog -- The Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council has called on the Government to review how State and European grant aid for farmers is distributed in light of what he described as ‘unprecedented challenges faced by the West of Ireland farming community’.

West Limerick farmer and Councillor John Sheahan said that farmers who owned land classified as Special Protection Areas (SPA) are at a disadvantage as the funding allocated through schemes such as CAP Pillar 2 and AEOS are “insufficient” to cover both the loss of revenue from not being able to farm the land or the cost of preserving and protecting the SPA.

“At present, farmers who receive grant aid under Pillar 2 of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) qualify for such funding as they farm disadvantaged or marginal lands. However, the level of grant aid received remains the same irrespective if you own SPA designated land. Therefore, farmers including many in West Limerick are at a distinct disadvantage,” explained Councillor Sheahan, who runs a farm in Glin.

He continued: “It is imperative that the Minister for Agriculture, Food & Marine, Simon Coveney, T.D., and Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan, T.D., review the situation which is having a negative effect on rural communities and the SPAs that require upkeep from farmers. The bottom line is that the funding mechanisms currently in place are crippling the ability of farmers who own SPA land to maintain a livelihood while it is also deterring young people from entering the sector.

“The SPAs in and around the Mullaghareirk Mountains region of West Limerick has been designated as such particularly for the benefit of the hen harrier. The well being of the hen harrier, which is a threatened and vulnerable species, is largely dependent on the work carried out by farmers in maintaining the land for the benefit of the local ecosystem. While farmers, me included, do the best that they can with limited resources there is a very real threat that the hen harrier species will experience a further decline if additional aid is not forthcoming. We can only do so much. This is something I have raised with farming, wildlife and environmental groups who share the view that proper maintenance of SPAs is critical.

“While other farmers who own disadvantaged land receive the same level of grant aid as us under Pillar 2 of the CAP and are also allowed to plough, drain and reseed marginal lands for the purpose of developing their business, we are left in a position where funds received under CAP Pillar 2 are invested in maintaining SPAs. The farming sector in areas such as West Limerick is undeniably in decline and this is having a negative impact on the wider community. As a result, I will be writing to Ministers Coveney and Deenihan requesting them to urgently review the funding situation in respect of SPA management,” concluded the Cathaoirleach.