Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

From telephone conversations I had with people in Duhallow during the day, I understand the entire region could be described as a wetland at present. The difficulty concerns information. Some of the local authorities seem to have maps of what is designated as wetland but the landowner or farmer does not. Is there information within either the local authorities or the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government? Should it be made available to farmers? A farmer's definition of wetland may vary from field to field. I have seen some farmers get into serious difficulties with the local authority because of what they described as a wet field, which would have been traditionally known as such, but which they would not have classified as a wetland. Is it possible to have farmers notified as to which lands or territories they own that are designated under the wetlands directive?

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