The information meeting in Kenmare was attended by over 100 farmers and Department officials gave presentations on the requirements for payment in the Basic Payment Scheme under Pillar I and the GLAS scheme under Pillar II of CAP.

Issues highlighted included the practice of burning, minimum stocking levels and the implementation of commonage management plans.

Commonage farmers with an area greater than 10ha will be required to draw up a commonage management plan (CMP) with their advisor for the GLAS scheme.

The Department guidelines set out that at least 50% of the active shareholders in the commonage area must participate in the CMP or farmers will not be eligible for the GLAS scheme and will have to be referred to the Commonage Implementation Committee for consideration and recommendation.

A CMP will set out minimum and maximum stocking rates for commonage areas, as well as works agreed to be carried out on the commonage area by farmers if required.

Department officials made it clear that farmers who claim commonage at present but do not carry any sheep, will be given an opportunity within a timeframe to meet their minimum stocking rate. The stocking rate for commonage farmers under Pillar I of the Basic Payment Scheme sets out a requirement of 0.1 livestock unit per ha.

Issue of burning

The first question from the floor for Department officials after the presentation concerned the practice of burning. Under the current rules set out by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) burning is only permitted from 1 September to 28 February. On the night, farmers argued that this period was too short and want it extended to the middle of April.

Department officials said they are currently negotiating with officials from the NPWS and gave a commitment to farmers on the night that the issue would be addressed.

Al Grogan from the Department of Agriculture urged farmers to make appropriate reductions in their Basic Payment Scheme application.

By Lorcan Allen