THE new Government might only be a day old but already a West of Ireland opposition TD has warned that planned changes regarding the drainage of peaty and mineral soils ‘will have a catastrophic impact’ on farmers in the West.

Independent Ireland TD for Roscommon-Galway, Michael Fitzmaurice, said this week he had been reliably informed that the new Government intended to bring in regulations which would require farmers to apply for planning permission to drain or shore their lands.

“What is being proposed is that with respect to lands composed of mineral soils over five hectares, will need to obtain planning permission in order to shore/land-drain their lands.

“However, most alarmingly with respect to peat soils (approximately 10 inches deep) a landowner would have to obtain planning permission to shore an area as little as 0.2 hectares which, for context, is little more than the size of a small site for a house,” said Deputy Fitzmaurice.

He said that all along the western seaboard and into the midlands, virtually every farmer had lands which needed to be land-drained to make them viable and sustainable.

“The reality of the new regulations is that farmers with peaty soils will have to go through the expense and aggravation of obtaining planning permission to shore more than 0.2 hectares of land,” he added.

Deputy Fitzmaurice also said that from he had heard, it was unlikely that planning permission would be easily granted for such routine land maintenance works.

He accused the new Government of ‘talking big’ about supporting farmers and the inter-generational transfer of farm holdings but immediately were set to rubber-stamp moves that would make it harder for young farmers to survive.

“I am calling on politicians across the spectrum, and farm organisations, to join together and make sure these regulations are not signed into law as it will have a detrimental effect on Irish farming, particularly in areas with marginal land quality.

“If this keeps going the way it is, it will drive farmers – and in particular young people in the West and Midlands – out of business and make farming on marginal lands unsustainable.

“This is not in keeping with the objectives of a fair society, where those lucky enough to have all good quality lands will not be faced with insurmountable technical challenges that are being placed on those who, through no fault of their own, must try to make a living on marginal lands,” said Deputy Fitzmaurice.

Pictured: Michael Fitzmaurice: A drainage catastophe.