DONEGAL TD Thomas Pringle has today welcomed the Agriculture Committee’s report recommending urgent policy actions to safeguard and enhance commonage lands.
There are hundreds of acres of commonage across Donegal.
Said Deputy Pringle: “A series of proposals were outlined at the Agriculture Committee yesterday, of which I am a member, aimed at unleashing the benefits of well managed commonages for the communities which depend on them, with the Committee arguing against one-size-fits-all solutions noting that each management scheme must be based on and address the unique characteristics of individual commonages, and this approach would be very welcome indeed.
“These recommendations are contained in a report on a review of commonage lads by the Agriculture Committee which is aimed at providing a roadmap for policymakers to safeguard and enhance commonages, drawing on current best practice of successful management of these lands.
“Other recommendations include the identifying and assessing of the effects of dormancy on the management of commonages and on their agricultural and environmental conditions, and that the management of commonages be promoted through output-driven schemes. In particular, I welcome the recommendation that compensation over and above the Single Farm Payment be paid to farmers to meet department de-stocking requirements on them.
“It is now of the upmost importance that both the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht give these recommendations serious consideration, noting that the evidence and contributions from both the witnesses and the members offer a valuable insight to designing pragmatic proposals for a workable policy,” stated Pringle.
Tags:
