A Mayo Deputy is calling on clarity from the Minister for Agriculture around ACRES availability for farmers with commonage land where there is active turf cutting.
Farmers land is marked out of 10 on a biodiversity scale, with 10 being the highest.
Sinn Fein TD Rose Conway Walsh says that any farmer who has land included in their ACRES application that is being cut for turf, will have that parcel of land reduced by 30% on the biodiversity scale, meaning it can only score a maximum of 7, but that any score less than 4 could result in a farmer not getting the payment.
She says that in the west, many farmers share commonage land with other farmers, and some of that may be bog. But even if the farmer applying to the scheme doesn't actively cut turf, he will still see his score reduced.
Deputy Conway Walsh has been telling Midwest Radio's Alannah Nolan that clarity is needed immediately for farmers applying for the scheme....
