The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has called on Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon to leave no stone unturned to secure adequate finance and supports for farmers on designated land in the upcoming budget and climate and nature fund.

Speaking after a meeting of the designated area monitoring committee, IFA Ulster/north Leinster regional chair and SAC project team chair Frank Brady said that the economic viability and value of the 35,000 farms on designated lands must be better protected.

"Proper, and long-term, remuneration for the farming restrictions placed on them, lost earnings and devaluation of land needs to be better provided. A ‘no-compensation, no-designation’ policy should apply,” Brady said.

The re-introduction of the farm plan scheme has been positive, Brady argued, but said that greater funding is needed to adequately resource it, increase awareness and expand the number of farm plans on the scheme, with increased payment rates to reflect the additional costs and burden on farmers whose land is designated.

Additional land

"It needs to be able to operate alongside other agri-environment schemes where additional land is held too,” he said.

IFA hill chair Caillin Conneely said designation brings huge added complexity and cost to farms.

“You can’t even go and fence your own land – with or without the support of TAMS - without multiple permissions and possibly environmental assessments.

"This all takes time and can be very costly, with no guarantee of success at the end of the day. Farmers on designated land could have to pay €4,000 to €5,000 more than those on non-designated land for the same investment. This issue needs to be resolved.”

Farmers on designated lands, he said, cannot be disadvantaged and no further restrictions should apply to lands currently designated.

"Instead, we need increased support and agricultural activity should be allowed to continue.

"We are aware of farmers waiting years for a decision on applications submitted regarding actions requiring consent. This is unacceptable.

"A full review of the internal operating dynamic surrounding designations and applications for actions requiring consent is required,” Conneely said.