The escalating dispute over proposed rent increases for sheep farmers in the Knockmealdown Mountains has continued to dominate political discussion, with multiple TDs raising the issue again in the Dáil.
Farmers in the region are facing rent hikes of up to 900% for land that has been grazed by local families for generations.
The standoff centres on land owned by the Duke of Devonshire, with tensions rising in recent weeks.
The situation has already prompted a protest outside a property linked to the landlord in London, as farmers say the increases threaten their livelihoods and the future of hill farming in the area.
Reminiscent of darker times according to one TD
Sinn Féin TD Conor McGuinness told the Dáil that the Government must make a strong intervention, describing the scale of the increases as wrong.
He said the situation was reminiscent of historical hardships and warned that farmers cannot absorb such dramatic changes.
“What’s happening here is a stark injustice, and it has echoed Minister of Darker times when absentee landlords, British aristocrats pushed Irish farmers off the land, and that is a comparison that should concern all of us, and it certainly should concern government.”
Farmers are being driven out
His party colleague, TD David Cullinane, also addressed the chamber, stating that sheep farmers in the Knockmealdowns are being driven off their land.
He said the proposed increases are unacceptable and that farmers simply want to continue tending to the land as they always have.
“Here we have a British absentee landlord, a multi-billionaire, who owns thousands of acres of land in Waterford, in Cork and elsewhere, is coming in and imposing a 900% increase. And they are outraged.”
“They simply want to farm.That’s all they want to do. They have no interest in getting involved in any disputes. They simply want to farm.”
Minister of state agrees to meet farmers
In response, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Timmy Dooley confirmed that he is willing to meet with the affected farmers. He said he would review any proposals brought forward in an effort to find a resolution to the dispute.
“I’m more than happy to meet with the 16 farmers as soon as possible and I’ll go through it all with them.”
“If you or others can find a room through it for a solution, you know, I’ll be happy to happy to look at that, as I said, more than happy to meet with the 16 farmers.”
The issue remains a major concern for the farming community, who say the rent demands could have long‑term consequences for the region’s agricultural heritage.
