Achill farmers meet Minister over non-payment of agriculture scheme monies

A delegation of Achill Island farmers, including Sean Corrigan, John Lee, and Dominic Veasey, travelled to Speenoge in Co Donegal last Monday night, November 13, to meet with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue.

The urgent meeting was called to deal with the issue of farmers’ commonage lands being burned across Achill Island earlier this year, which has resulted in the non-payment of agriculture scheme monies for these areas.

The story was reported on the front page of last week’s Western People.

Commonage fire outbreaks are a problem during dry weather on the island.

“These burnings have had implications on many local farmers to the sum of tens of thousands of euros in payment cuts across several commonages in the Achill parish,” said a group spokesperson.

“Achill Island farmers are not arsonists. Many local farmers see that it is unfair, that they are currently being penalised for something that they have not caused on their commonages and are not to blame for environmental damage that fire causes to their own lands.

“Achill Island is a very popular destination for visitors who use the Wild Atlantic Way, the Great Western Greenway, hill walking, and the influx of visitors due to films including The Banshees of Inisherin, that farmers and everyone locally welcomes. However, some farmers feel this influx may be an influencing factor.”

A further meeting with Department of Agriculture officials will be taking place in the coming weeks to discuss further the issue and to gain a resolution.