Buy-in urged on Burren project

MINISTER FOR the Environment John Gormley has indicated that if a farming conservation project in the Burren, Co Clare, is to continue, there needs to be a buy-in from other Government departments.

In the Burren village of Carron at the weekend to meet participants in the BurrenLife project, Mr Gormley said his department would “not be found wanting” to ensure the project continued.

But he added: “We need a buy-in as well from other departments. We need a buy-in from the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Everyone has to be involved.

“The community appreciate that. They do know that this has worked and it is a win-win situation. It helps the farmers and it helps the environment.”

Three-quarters of the €2.2 million in funding for the five-year project, which is due to expire in September, came from the EU.

At a meeting with the Minister, the project’s director, Dr Brendan Dunford, and Burren IFA chairman Michael Davoren advanced the case for the project to be rolled out across all farms in the Burren.

Since 2004, the project has concentrated on 20 farms in the Burren and the results have proven successful in halting the spread of scrub and protecting the orchid-rich grasslands.

Asked would his department continue to fund the project, Mr Gormley said it would do everything it could and was working with the community to ensure it remained in place.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Davoren said: “We are very confident that a scheme can be put in place that all farmers can join.”