Farmers are being penalised for fires

THE Council has passed a motion by Sinn Féin Councillor Thomas Healy calling on the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to pay out the payment owed to 56 shareholders who had “no hand, act or part in” the fire on Killery Mountain in May 2017.

He said: “The Department of Agriculture refused to pay funds due to the 56 affected shareholders as they were unable to use the lands for agricultural purposes.”

“This is shambolic and hugely unfair, penalising through collective punishment of people who are not to blame for this scenario,” he told members.

“These are significant amounts of money under the BPS scheme the loss of which is resulting in poverty and reduced ability to farm,” he said.

Cllr Healy said this decision by the Department also threatened to undermine years of goodwill and cooperation from the farmers with the Council for the use of the Sligo Way.

“I hope that Sligo County Council will support the local farmers and ensure their livelihoods are not damaged further,” he said.