Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

While we are discussing the rural development programme, it is unfortunate that much of attention and concern of farmers centres on two main issues - commonage and GLAS. However, the programme is much wider than that. I am not sure whether it is the Department's intention to focus on one or two issues and deflect attention from others. The issues of major concern are commonage and GLAS, if they are implemented as proposed. While these might be laudable objectives on paper that will deal with issues such as fires on hills due to a lack of grazing and so on and address commonage plans, they are unworkable. A sledgehammer is being taken to crack a nut. Farmers will be punished because of the way policy was implemented by the Department in previous years. The Department requested in conjunction with NPWS a cutback on hill grazing and to remedy this, the commonage plan is one of the policy objectives it is bringing forward, which in my view and that of farmers and other committee members is not workable and not practicable at all. As Deputy Ó Cuív, who lives beside a commonage in Connemara, has outlined, linking the single farm payment to the commonage area will not work in the manner proposed.

There are farmers on one commonage in my county and 15 different planners are working with them. They all draw down the single farm payments. Some are engaged in AEOS while others are on the verge of leaving the REPS. How will farmers decide which of the 15 planners to employ? It is crazy beyond belief and it will not work. Too much of the onus is being put on farmers and easier and more workable methods could be taken into consideration. It is also a little harsh on farmers. They are being told a policy is being introduced because officials do not think they can manage themselves and they will stipulate clearly what farmers can do. The objectives may be laudable but practicality does not come with them.

When one applies for area aid, one must also apply for GLAS in 2015. What will happen to farmers who are engaged in a five year programme under AEOS? Do they have to give up AEOS and apply for GLAS?