Farmers in North Clare have given a cautious welcome to news that a key farming support scheme for the area will continue.
The government’s new Rural Development Programme promises 12.5 billion euro in funding for agriculture between now and 2020, and includes confirmation that the Burren Farming for Conservation will remain in place.
First introduced in 2011, the scheme has seen up to 160 farmers in the ecologically sensitive area each receive thousands of euro a year on average in return for farming in an environmentally-friendly fashion.
However, the level of future payments remains to be seen, and chairman of Burren IFA Michael Davoren says this needs to be reviewed.
