The treasurer of Leitrim IFA says the buying of land in the county for forestry by speculators and investors is now out of control.
Maureen Murray says it’s wrong that people can sell their land for forestry to speculators and still keep their payments under the Common Agricultural policy.
Similar sentiments were expressed at this month’s meeting of Leitrim County Council.
Fianna Fail Councillor Justin Warnock called on the council to ask EU Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Phil Hogan if it was EU policy to financially support what he described as ‘the land grab’ by forestry companies and their agents now taking place in Leitrim.
Maureen Murray says there’s no future for people in the county if the county council and the constitency’s TDs cannot bring the situation under control.
She added that the county is in uproar over what is happening.
