GALWAY TD HITS OUT AT DERROGATION PROCESS FOR FARM SCHEME

Date Published: 28-Sep-2012

Concerns have been raised at the challenges posed for Galway farmers with limited stock levels who wish to access the Disadvantaged Area Scheme.

Farmers can appeal the department's decision based on constraints on stocking levels should their land be designated as an SAC, SPA or NHA.

Galway West TD Eamon O'Cuiv says the department contacted 10 thousand farmers nationwide concerning stock density and 9 thousand 500 applied for a derrogation.

So far, four thousand decisions have been made and half of these have been in favour of the farmers.

Deputy O'Cuiv says the whole derrogation process has proved to be overly bureaucratic and that a review of the system workings is now needed.