IFA Secures Full Sustainability Payment for Farmers on the South Kerry Greenway

IFA has secured agreement that 100% of the Greenway Sustainability Payment will be available to the landowners on the South Kerry Greenway (SKG).

IFA President Francie Gorman welcomed the positive news from the Minister of Transport Darragh O’Brien and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

IFA had lobbied the Department of Transport, TII and Kerry County Council (KCC) over the last two years on this issue and it will make a significant difference to the landowners on the 27km Greenway route from Glenbeigh to Cahersiveen.

IFA Infrastructure Project Team Chair Paul O’Brien said at every opportunity IFA has pursued the full sustainability payment on behalf of the farmers on the SKG.

“IFA organised two large public landowner meetings in Foilmore, Cahersiveen over a 12-month period. TDs and county councillors were left in no doubt that the landowners on the SKG were entitled to the full Greenway Sustainability payment.”

Previously, Kerry Co Co and TII were offering only 50% of the payment.

There are c.133 farmers on the South Kerry Greenway, with an average length of Greenway per landowner of c.200m. The Greenway Sustainability payment is additional to any compensation payments due to the landowners for loss of land, severance, injurious affection and disturbance as well as accommodation works.

Paul O’Brien said the IFA met with the Department of Transport officials and TII and had a number of meetings with KCC in Tralee on the issues. He said the willingness of the officials, including the Chief Executive, to engage and work with the IFA in trying to resolve this and other long-running issues on the SKG was very significant.

Kerry IFA Chair Jason Fleming said this is positive news for the landowners on the SKG. He said IFA identified the full sustainability payment as a key issue in terms of progressing matters on the SKG, and vigorously pursued it on behalf of the landowners.

He said this is a significant step in the right direction and there are many more outstanding issues and cases along the route that must be resolved.