Following the publication by the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM) of the appeals mechanism for the Good Agriculture and Environmental Condition 2 (GAEC 2), the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) have questioned the inclusion of two of the appeal requirements stating that” the DAFM need to remove both requirements.”
The two requirements in question are
· Signed declaration from the appellant that the parcel(s) in question has/have never been drained and he/she plans to carry out drainage works in 2025.
· Evidence to show that the appellant plans to carry out drainage work in 2025, e.g. contractor quotation, estimate of cost, etc.
Speaking on this, national president Vincent Roddy outlined how “the organisation have written to the DAFM indicating the need to remove both points as they are not relevant, as those appealing are doing so because they believe the land has been incorrectly included under the GAEC 2 Standard.”
This Roddy stated “is a point we have made to DAFM staff on a number of occasions and it is difficult to understand why they have pursued these options.”
“For many farmers the issue around GAEC 2 lands isn’t necessarily about drainage, but the fact that the GAEC 2 Standard has been incorrectly applied on non-peat soils (mineral soils)” added the INHFA president.
It is, he continued, “important to understand that for some farmers the need to carry out land drainage may never feature. For these farmers the issue is that their land has been incorrectly mapped and now included under a standard that may have long-term implications, some of which may not even feature as of now.”
The farm leader concluded by stressing “the need for the DAFM to re-evaluate the appeals process and remove both of these points, as the issue isn’t about land drainage, but the fact that land parcels were incorrectly mapped and there needs to be a simple appeals process to correct this.”