Rural Communities 'Singled Out' For Cutbacks

The rural and farming communities have been "singled out" for cutbacks according to the Opposition's response to this week's budgetary statement from the Government.

Fianna Fail say the sector is facing cutbacks across a number of areas, hitting parts of the country that are "already suffering most"

The Fianna Fáil Seanad Spokesperson on Agriculture, Brian Ó Domhnaill, said that means testing and income criteria changes to the Farm Assist scheme in Monday and Tuesday's budget will hit farmers struggling to make a living.

Mr Ó Domhnaill said the problem was further exacerbated by the Labour and Fine Gael coalition's decision to slash the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and cut subsidies.

"The most vulnerable farmers living in the least profitable land will be hit hard by these changes which will have the effect of damaging the agricultural industry on a whole," the Senator said.

"Looking at the decisions made over the last few months it is clear that the Fine Gael and Labour Government is a Dublin-focussed Government. I am calling on those rural Ministers within the Cabinet to work harder to make the voices of their communities heard at the Cabinet table," said Senator Ó Domhnaill.

IFA President John Bryan also responded to the changes saying the cuts to subsidies, and changes to the Disadvantaged Areas and Farm Assist, were a direct "€50m hit" on farm incomes, which "flies in the face of the contribution agriculture is making to jobs and exports in the economy."

Mr Bryan said households would be affected by the new charges and cuts in services and he urged the Government to ensure that services for rural dwellers are maintained.

The IFA President added that the decision to impose a new dairy marketing levy came as a shock to dairy farmers as they had not been consulted and already paid a marketing levy to the IDB.

“Dairy farmers must be fully consulted and will need a lot of convincing on why this levy is justified and how this money is going to be spent,” Mr Byran said.

(DW)