The Programme for Government has committed to changes in the Fair Deal Scheme to make it fairer for small businesses and family farms. Families have struggled with huge costs where farm assets have not been transferred or were transferred within the previous five years.

The impact is greatest where farm income is limited and where any further sell-off of assets leaves the farm non-viable for future generations. The IFA has proposed that contributions under the scheme must be proportionate to the ability of the family farm to pay.

One farmer, who did not want to be named, provided the Irish Farmers Journal with a detailed account of the cost of keeping their elderly mother in a nursing home.

“My mother went into a nursing home last May. She was doing very well and then she went downhill very quickly. Physically she’s doing well and is very fit, but mentally she’s not doing well. She’s 80, but very healthy,” they said.

“It’s the price of the care that’s enormous. We’re paying €860/week in a private nursing home – and that’s not the most expensive.

“Some of the HSE-run facilities are up on €1,300/week. We applied for the Fair Deal scheme last year and got €30/week in support. We appealed this year and got €50/week.”

The farmer said their mother’s savings have been helping make the repayments, but that it is getting more difficult.

“We are running out of money and we need help. It’s really that simple. With her old-age pension, it’s costing about €600/week. We have already spent €75,000 on her upkeep.”

The farmer’s mother has 30 acres to her name. The farmer feels that even if it was sold at a market value of €260,000, the money would be spent in less than 10 years, servicing the nursing home bills.

The farmer is calling for farmers and businesses to receive support along the lines of the 90% agricultural relief in next week’s budget.

“We don’t want anything more than fairness. That’s all we want; fair treatment.”

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Full coverage: Budget 2017