Farmers set to tackle land eligibility worries

ICSA Roscommon chairman Ger Grehan has urged all farmers affected by land eligibility issues to attend a public meeting in Athlone on Friday, April 10 at the Athlone Springs Hotel.

“Farmers all over the country have been affected by LPIS penalties, up to 100% of their single payment in some cases, and there are huge concerns about how the Department is dealing with this,” said Mr Grehan.

“We are providing a forum for all farmers to raise these concerns and to share experiences with the public representatives present, and a large turnout of affected farmers would really serve to drive home the anger felt by so many,' he explained.

“Our West Cork chairman, Dermot Kelleher, will be in attendance at the meeting to outline the proposed legal challenge against the unfairness of these penalties by a group of farmers in West Cork, which will be of interest to anyone who may find themselves in a similar situation.

“The meeting will also discuss the proposed Dublin/Galway Greenway, which is a particular issue for farmers along the route through Roscommon and Galway,” continued Mr Grehan. “Farmers have raised a number of major issues with the proposed development, and so far, these seem to have fallen on deaf ears. People’s livelihoods are at stake here, and the matter cannot be ignored by the authorities,” he concluded.

The meeting takes place at 8.30pm and all are welcome to attend.