Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for that briefing, which clarified a number of these issues for me. However, the fundamental issue is that many parts of County Roscommon are not considered to have heavy soils. Even if the river is low-status, farmers will not be eligible under this provision in GLAS. In other parts of the county and east Galway where there are heavy soils, eligibility is confined to farmers who are "méarning" water courses. There are many karst limestone regions in my part of the country where rivers travel underground. No provision has made for them. They are vulnerable areas - we have evidence of this in the series of boil water notices in place throughout County Roscommon and east Galway - but no recognition is being given under the scheme for these catchments. Why are underground rivers excluded and overground rivers included? Why is it that only pristine overground rivers will automatically result in access to the scheme if a farmer is "méarning" the river but there has to be poor-quality water and poor marginal land for them to be eligible where the rivers are not up to standard?

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