The decision by the Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to extend the deadline for derogation applications, under the 2012 Disadvantaged Area Scheme, is nowhere near enough – that’s according to Belmullet-area Councillor Michael Holmes.

Changes to the scheme were approved recently by the EU Commission, which includes a retrospective requirement on destocking for 2011.

Farmers were only informed of the changes last week, and were given until this Friday to submit any appeals.

The Minister has now given farmers an extra week to apply for derogations under the scheme – the new closing date is Friday 31^st August.

Independent councillor Michael Holmes is questioning the constitutionality of changing last year’s stocking density retrospectively, and says many farmers in the West of Ireland will have their incomes cut as a result of the changes….