NEW FEARS OVER DESTOCKING SHEEP FOR CONNEMARA FARMERS

Date Published: 19-Nov-2008

Connemara Hill Farmers are expressing a range of new fears over the destocking of sheep.The concern has arisen following the NPWS public meeting in Maam some weeks ago.Galway West Fine Gael Senator Fidelma Healy Eames met with some of the farmers in Oughterard this week and says their fears are well founded.Among the concerns is that the destocking compensation promised to farmers of 2000 euro per year for 5 years will be subject to budget cuts.They also thought they had to destock to 1.5 sheep per hectare, but in reality they must destock to 0.75 sheep per hectare.