Farmers whose land was burnt by fires over the summer are being unfairly penalised by the Department of Agriculture.
That’s according to the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association who called for an emergency meeting with the Department on the matter this week.
President of the Organisation – Aclare farmer Colm O’Donnell has accused the Department of breaching the Farmers Charter of Rights by withholding payments and not notifying farmers in a timely manner to be able to resolve the matter.
He says a good portion of the over claim letters received by applicants appear to be linked to the 95 wild fires which engulfed many areas during the late spring/early summer period.
He’s urging farmers getting these letters to get in contact with them at the INHFA offices in Tubbercurry:
