Foreword

One of the priority actions identified by the Heritage Council is to provide advice on the impact of current land uses on Ireland's heritage. To enable the Council to propose policies to government in line with its statutory responsibilities under Section (6) of the Heritage Act,1995, the Council commissioned a study reviewing the current situation regarding agricultural premia schemes and their impact on heritage. The commissioning of this report was overseen by a small steering committee, comprised of Emer Colleran, Micheline Sheehy Skeffington, and Anne Farrell, from the Heritage Council, John Murphy of BirdWatch Ireland and Shay Fogarty of the Department of Agriculture and Food, with Liam Lysaght the Wildlife Officer with the Heritage Council in attendance. The Heritage Council thanks those involved in overseeing the production of this report for their time and support. The Heritage Council hopes the publication of this report, and the implementation of the recommendation contained in Council's Policy Paper on Agriculture and the National Heritage will lead to a real benefit to Ireland's heritage.

Freda Rountree
Chairperson

Heritage Council
June 1999