Sinn Féin councillor Rose Conway-Walsh has described the requirement for farmers in SAC areas to get planning permission for putting up a sheep fence under the Sheep Fencing Grant Scheme as stark, raving mad.
The scheme was opened by the Department of Agriculture and Food to assist sheep farmers in upgrading fencing on their lands. A maximum grant of 40 per cent or €4,000 was allocated for the scheme.
“Farmers who applied have waited patiently for any word on their application and were told recently they would be inspected before any approval for grant aid would happen. However, in recent days those farmers who proposed to upgrade the fencing on their owned, fenced SAC designated lands required planning permission to erect the new fence. Many applications for this scheme in Mayo would have designated lands included,” explained Cllr Conway-Walsh.
On consulting Mayo County Council on this matter, Cllr Conway-Walsh has been informed that a full planning application is required. This involves site location and layout maps, elevation drawings, site notice and advertisement in local newspaper.
“Added to this a Natural Impact Statement is required from a suitably qualified person to deal with the effect the new fence would have on the designated lands.
“The costs involved in submitting this application will make it unviable to proceed with the Sheep Fencing Scheme. Furthermore it is not just actions taken for the Sheep Fencing Grant Scheme that require planning permission. Any works like fencing, land reclaiming over two hectares, etc. on designated lands now require planning approval whether you are applying for a grant or not. This is a prime example of why we in Sinn Féin have been critical of the dictatorial attitude of the European institutions and the eagerness of successive governments to over-designate and over-comply.
“In the past farmers in designated areas had partial compensation through REPS up to €240 per hectare, the maximum for any new scheme is €70 per hectare,” added Cllr Conway-Walsh.
