Ten whole years – by the time the new N22 road scheme is opened in Co Cork, that’s how long the farmers on the route will have been dealing with compulsory purchase orders (CPOs).

Cork County Council issued a notice of CPO back in 2011 for farmland on its chosen route around Macroom and Baile Bhuirne.

Most of the 70 or so farmers affected have now agreed a compensation package with the council.

The route is now fenced off and farmers can no longer use this land. A road building contractor will be selected by year end. The new road could open to traffic in mid-2021.

Twenty-four farm underpasses/overpasses will be required along the route, which will be paid for by Cork County Council.

Farmers are advised to hire an agri-consultant to help them deal with the CPO process. The compensation package will cover the consultant’s fees.

Bandon-based John Crowley acted as consultant for many of the N22 farmers. He explained how the compensation is arrived at.

“There are four strands,” he said. “First, affected landowners are eligible for a goodwill payment which in this case was €5,000/ac lost to the new road. For future road projects it has been reduced by Transport Infrastructure Ireland to €3,000/ac.”

Next, there is payment of the market value of the land acquired. This varies from field to field. “On this project, the basic land price was in the range of €8,000 to €10,000/acre.”

Next is payment for “severance and injurious affection”. It compensates for the loss in market value of the remainder of the farm.

“A new road can pass along the edge of a farm – or split it in two. The second scenario hits the value of this farm harder. This payment varies widely.”

Disturbance money

Last is disturbance money. “The farmer must spend many working hours dealing with the CPO process and with legal matters. Grazing and access to land for silage making, etc, will be lost during construction.”

Early in the process, the farmer will negotiate accommodation works. This is the infrastructure necessary to allow the farm continue to operate and includes fencing, gateways, access lanes, underpasses and overpasses.

Once a farmer accepts the package on offer, he or she signs a contract with the county council. Payment of the full compensation package is made within weeks.