DEPUTY Charlie
McConalogue has claimed that recent changes to the
Farm Assist payment are discriminatory to farmers in
Co Donegal.
The Fianna Fáil TD said the changes to the
qualification criteria for Farm Assist introduced in
the Budget have already had an "enormous impact" on
the most vulnerable farmers in the county. He said
many farmers now feel it is "simply not worth their
while continuing to farm".
“These changes, which were introduced by the Social
Protection Minister Joan Burton in the Budget, came
into effect at the beginning of this month. The
1,554 farmers affected in Donegal have seen a huge
cut in their income as a result,” he said.
“Donegal has the second highest number of farmers
dependent on the Farm Assist payment in the country.
Low-income farmers depend on this payment to keep
their farms in business. I have spoken to some local
farmers who have now seen the full impact of the
changes and are genuinely fearful about their
livelihood as a result.
“Perhaps it’s a case that Dublin Minister Joan
Burton simply did not understand the devastating
impact that this cut would have on the farming
community in Donegal. But the Government
representatives here, including Minister Dinny
McGinley and Deputy Joe McHugh, must see just how
harmful this will be to the local agriculture
industry.
"I am appealing to them to stand up for the farmers
they represent and ensure that this harmful cut is
immediately reversed.” |
