Oireachtas committee hear of IFDL tax offset plan

The Irish Farmers with Designated Land (IFDL) got what they described as “a fair hearing” from the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee on Tuesday.

This is the group looking for improved conditions for the 6,000 farmers whose land is designated as a special area of conservation (SPA) due to the presence of the hen harrier, a protected bird species.

Currently, the GLAS scheme proposes to pay €370/ha on up to 19ha to such farmers. The representatives of the IFDL, who included chairman Liam O’Keeffe, Jason Fitzgerald, and Kenneth Fitzgerald, said that it is not enough. They are calling for an additional payment of €120 on the first 13.5 ha, bringing payment up to €520/ha. This would allow smaller holdings to access the maximum €7,000 available under GLAS plus.

The IFDL also told the Agriculture committee of a proposal for a tax credit to be available on the land that would allow the income foregone through farming under restriction to be recognised by an offset against other income earned. While many farmers affected have small incomes and, as a consequence, small tax bills, this measure would have the effect of increasing the value and saleability of the near 170,000ha affected.

The other key issue is the restriction on afforestation of hen harrier SPA land. A total ban has been in place since 2010. Jason Fitzgerald described the progress of the threat response plan as “drawn out” and wants an outcome soon. A parcel-swap mechanism has been suggested.

Budget proposal

IFA, in their pre-budget submission released on Wednesday, are calling for an additional €5m of funding for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to compensate farmers farming designated lands under restriction, where such restrictions are not covered by the GLAS scheme.

IFA’s mantra has long been “no designation without compensation” and SAC Chairman Tom Turley says farmers whose incomes and livelihoods have been negatively affected must be adequately compensated.