Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue has been called on to deliver a long-promised scheme for Ireland’s forgotten farmers by Sinn Féin spokesperson for agriculture, Claire Kerrane.

Kerrane has said she has repeatedly urged Minister McConalogue to set out details of his Department’s proposed scheme for forgotten farmers, which he first mentioned back in December 2021.

There are around 3,500 forgotten farmers in the country and Kerrane said they have waited far too long for a scheme to be provided.

Assurances

“I have raised this matter several times with Minister McConalogue, and each time he has made assurances that a proposal for the group known as forgotten farmers is imminent.

“Yet, there has been no update on this important proposal since the start of this year, and the Government made no reference to funding for such a proposal in their Budget 2024 announcement earlier this month,” she said.

“Considering the Minister previously indicated that proposals would be made public in the first quarter of this year, and again promised he would follow up with his Department in May, it is really disappointing that nothing has been announced.

“I understand this is a complex issue and it is essential the Department get the details of the scheme right. Setting out the eligibility requirements and getting them right is critical,” she said.

'Too long'

She said these farmers have waited far too long for a solution.

“They are still waiting and it appears they may have to wait even longer given there has been no update on the proposed scheme or allocation in Budget 2024.

“As I have said before, these are farmers who have already lost out financially and have been left in limbo for years. They have been put in a really vulnerable and unfair position and should not have to wait any longer,” she said.

Kerrane added that Sinn Féin has included a proposal to provide compensation for the forgotten farmers in its alternative budgets in recent years.

“We recognise a scheme is needed for these farmers, and it is needed now.

“Details of the proposed scheme must now be provided without delay, and I have submitted a further query to the Minister to find out when that can be expected,” she said.