The Dáil has passed a motion that calls on the Government to immediately bring forward a hardship fund, a meal voucher scheme, low-cost loans as well as issuing balancing payments for outstanding 2017 RDP schemes such as GLAS and sheep welfare. It also calls for a temporary halt to on-farm inspections and Bord Bia audits.

The motion was introduced to the house by opposition party Fianna Fáil earlier this week. It passed on Thursday with an accepted amendment from Sinn Féin. The amendment added a recommendation to introduce a land improvement and drainage scheme that would make land more accessible for harvesting silage and hay.

Fianna Fáil agricultural spokesperson Charlie McConologue estimated that it would cost only €1.5m to fund the meal voucher scheme. He also stated that a hardship fund could be provided through de-minimus funding, due to a Department of Agriculture underspend, and it would help to relieve credit issues for farmers facing increased meal costs after the spring.

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