Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There were 80 burnings on mountains during 2017. These farmers kindly gave permission to have this walkway put in place, supported by Sligo Leader, Sligo County Council and Leitrim County Council. After that, last April or May, there were three or four weeks of good weather. It was the only summer we got. One could not burn land since then because one would not be able to light it because it was raining. These farmers are being victimised. None of them started the fire and they have sworn affidavits relating to that too. Some 600 people walked the Camino trail that weekend. I asked a farmer today how many people use the stretch of trail here. Some 60 people a day walk that particular stretch across the Killery Mountain because it is beautiful countryside. I do not think any of those walkers, because they respect the rural areas, would start a fire deliberately and no farmer would start a fire deliberately outside the burning time. It was probably an accident where a cigarette butt, a bit of glass or whatever else started that fire. These farmers are now being heavily penalised for something they did not do. It is affecting them and their families. It is an area with poor quality land and this penalty affects not only the land on the mountain that they have lost because of fire but also the lowlands they have. The Department should make a case relating to this. I know it will not stop here because these farmers have taken advice on this and will push it as far as they can.

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