The Department of Agriculture has confirmed that it has received 10,173 appeals form farmers to date over land eligibility issues. At this stage, it has replied to nearly half of these farmers. Thousands will require visits from a Department of Agriculture inspector to clarify land eligibility issues on the ground. Farmers that are not satisfied with the outcome of the review, can appeal their case to the independent-chaired Land Eligibility Appeals Committee. To date just 179 farmers have gone this route but the number of cases being referred will increase, as the number of verification visits are finalised.

The initial review of all 900,000 Irish land parcels was due to a threat of a major EU fine now starting at €181.5 million, linked to how the Department has administered the LPIS in Ireland. The Department submitted a appeal to the EU this week in a bid to dramatically reduce any fine.

Peter Young

ADVERTISEMENT