Farmers claim lack of meaningful consultation on greenways
The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has said that many of its members across the country are reporting "a lack of meaningful and practical consultation and engagement" on greenways.
IFA Infrastructure Project Team chair Paul O’Brien has claimed that "some local authorities are refusing to follow the agreed Code of Practice, which is causing huge problems".
"In many cases, farmers have had no direct contact from project promoters until the project is gone too far and at the preferred route corridor stage.
"Prior to this stage, farmers feel the consultation is a box-ticking exercise and a lot of the work on the route is a desk top exercise.
"Most local authorities have declined to attend IFA-organised meetings with affected landowners. This approach is unacceptable," he said.
Greenways
The IFA recently met with representatives of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), the Department of Transport, and local authorities on the issue.
O'Brien outlined the concerns over the development of greenways and the "serious implications" these projects can have on farmers, rural communities and the agriculture sector.
The IFA reiterated its "strong objection" to the use of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) for greenways, which it said are "amenity projects, not essential public infrastructure".
The association believes greenways should, wherever possible, be developed on public lands and not on privately-owned farmland.
The IFA engaged with TII and local authority representatives to negotiate a Code of Practice for Greenways.
IFA
O’Brien told the meeting that many of the proposed greenway routes, if implemented as planned, would sever and divide active farms.
He said this is unacceptable, adding that the "severance of farmland cannot be justified for recreational projects and must be avoided in all cases".
The IFA Infrastructure Project Team chair said greenways can only succeed where there is genuine community support.
"Successful greenway development requires trust, transparency, and voluntary agreement.
"The imposition of routes across farmland without consent damages that trust and erodes community cohesion," he said.
