A threat that Irish farmers may withdraw their co-operation with road-building and other structural developments around the State unless they are properly compensated was made in Tullamore yesterday.
More than 200 farmers attending a conference on the challenges to farming posed by infrastructural development were told by Mr Tom Parlon, the Irish Farmers' Association president, that up to 7,000 farmers will be affected. It was estimated at the conference that upwards of 10,000 acres of farmland will be swallowed up by motorways, which require 7.5 acres of land per kilometre. The development of other roads and communication systems will take at least 5,000 acres.
"While roads and other developments are desirable, and I want to stress that we are not against progress in any way, there is massive disruption heading this way," Mr Parlon said.
He set out what he termed the "absolute preconditions for IFA's continued co-operation with the programme" of road-building, gas, electricity and telecoms networks development.
First, full and proper land valuation was needed to allow farmers to replace land acquired under Compulsory Purchase Orders in the current land market. He also said there must be a Capital Gains Tax exemption for forced land sales for infrastructure for young farmers who could find themselves paying 20 per cent on compensation paid.
His third demand was that the CPO process must be changed to eliminate delays in payments. Mr Francis Fanning, chairman of the IFA's industrial committee, said the delays in payment to farmers by local authorities when land was acquired was creating serious problems. "On a rising market where farmland is hard to acquire, farmers cannot afford to wait for several years before replacing land they have lost to development," he said.
He added that many difficulties had arisen with land being valued long before money was handed over. He said the Revenue Commissioners were refusing to accept that young farmers who had recently taken over their family farms should not be subject to Capital Gains Tax of 20 per cent on compensation.
"The IFA has provided over 30 years of support to farmers who allow their lands to be used for infrastructure to the benefit of the community at large," he said. "IFA insists on proper prior consultation and fair compensation for the impacts of these developments on farmers and their families."
The meeting was addressed by representatives of the companies driving the £42 billion National Plan, which will run to 2006. They included Mr Michael Snee of Bord Gais Eireann, Mr Bernard O'Reilly of Eirgrid, Mr Tom Murtagh of Eircell, Mr Michael Tobin of the National Roads Authority and Mr Gavin Roulston, a lawyer specialising in compulsory acquisitions.