Fears pearl mussel may gobble up hen harrier funding
THERE are “concerns” that €35 million which was pledged by the Government to farmers in land classified as being hen harrier protected could have a portion of it gobbled up by the Freshwater Pearl Mussel.
Jason Fitzgerald, secretary of the IFDL (Irish Farmers with Designated Land) told The Corkman that the structure of the New Hen Harrier locally led scheme has caused “concerns” among farmers affected by the Natura 2000 Hen Harrier SPA designation.
He said his group, the IFDL has been working closely with the Department of Agriculture on the issue to alleviate their concerns on the DOA’s website. One concern was an insufficient portion of the €70 million locally led fund being made available for the new scheme.
He said: “Farmers whose land is designated were promised €35 million, but according to the Department of Agriculture’s website, it is now stated that this sum of money is to be divided with the Freshwater Pearl Mussel who are aimed to receive €15 million and the Hen Harrier scheme earmarked for €20 million. This is a concern. But we are working with the Department on this issue.”
“This has been discussed at length previously and the Hen Harrier scheme is to get the full €35 million and not the proposed €20 million. But as I said, we are working with the Department on this issue,” he said.
In a meeting held in Rockchapel last October, the IFDL met with the then Minister of Agriculture, Simon Coveney along with Michael Creed TD. However, fast forward a year, and Minister Creed is now at the helm as Agriculture Minister. At the Rockchapel meeting, under the new proposed scheme, there was a Government commitment to pay €23 million per year for five years to farmers who farm land in designated regions. In monetary terms, it would mean farmers are set to receive €370 per hectare for the first 19 hectares provided they join the appropriate schemes.
Mr Fitzgerald also said concerns are also being raised about the Glas Plus scheme which is a top up for farrmers with complicating factors such as Natura 2000 Designations including the Hen Harrier SPA designation. He said “no mechanisms” have yet been pu tin place to pay farmers the additional top up payment.
“This is unacceptable. It seems that farmers in marginal areas are always left until last, bearing in mind the current difficulties facing ground conditions in these areas,” he said.