Mr. Michael Sheahan:

Compensation is becoming a more significant issue. While people complain and farming organisations will often make an issue of compensation, we find in practice that our valuation system works very well. If a farmer is not happy with the valuation, he or she has the chance to appeal and a second valuation will be made. However, the number of appeals is very low. Approximately 3% of all valuations are appealed, with half of the appeals being taken by the Department and the other half by farmers. It is a very low rate of appeals. Perhaps farmers are never happy with the prices they receive at marts, but when one speaks to them privately, our experience is that the valuation system is fair.