The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has called on the Minister for Agriculture to deliver a more ambitious Scheme to Support Long Established Young Farmers.
It comes as concerns have been raised with the scheme, announced by Minister Martin Heydon, with its deadline upcoming on Wednesday 13 August.
IFA rural development chair John Curran said the association's regional offices are getting calls daily from frustrated farmers.
“After years in the making and countless political promises to finally support ‘forgotten farmers’, we’ve a scheme on the table that falls far short of expectations and will again exclude many farmers from necessary support,” he said.
“We’ve looked for a meeting with the Minister to try [to] get some resolution here.
"Our view is clear. Commitments made in Budget 2025 for increased funding allocations will need to be honoured. A more ambitious long established young farmer scheme has to be delivered that caters for all eligible farmers, including those starting out in 2008 and thereafter.”
Funding
In addition to concerns about eligibility, the IFA has also voiced complaints with the funding available and the timeframe for applications.
“The support must be at least equivalent to what they would have received under the installation aid,” added Curran.
“The three-week application window (ending Wednesday 13 August) to secure necessary documentation and submit online, during the holiday season, is also far too tight.
“Farmers are finding it difficult to get queries addressed and assemble the required supporting documentation (eg educational qualifications, etc) to accompany applications. This must be extended to a more realistic timeframe.”
‘Deadline must be pushed back’ — ICMSA
Meanwhile, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) has reiterated its calls for the application deadline to be extended until at least 30 September.
Association deputy president Eamon Carroll said that numerous farmers have are unable to contact their advisors who are on holidays or their Agriculture College that are closed over the summer.
“It would surely make sense for the application deadline to be pushed to at least 30 September when normal administration resumes, and it would be that much easier to access the records and information that the Department itself is insisting accompany applications to the Scheme.”
Carroll added: “There is still significant concern that the ‘cut-off’ date of December 31, 2007, has excluded many farmers, the very individuals who began farming just as we were about to enter a period of national economic hardship with very limited supports for young farmers. In the context of the calls and feedback we are getting, that are surely being communicated to the other stakeholders, it’s very obvious that we need a second tranche or phase two that deals with those individuals.”
Read more
News Podcast: GAEC 2 appeals, bale stacking penalties and re-forgotten farmers
The ‘forgotten’ forgotten farmers
The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has called on the Minister for Agriculture to deliver a more ambitious Scheme to Support Long Established Young Farmers.
It comes as concerns have been raised with the scheme, announced by Minister Martin Heydon, with its deadline upcoming on Wednesday 13 August.
IFA rural development chair John Curran said the association's regional offices are getting calls daily from frustrated farmers.
“After years in the making and countless political promises to finally support ‘forgotten farmers’, we’ve a scheme on the table that falls far short of expectations and will again exclude many farmers from necessary support,” he said.
“We’ve looked for a meeting with the Minister to try [to] get some resolution here.
"Our view is clear. Commitments made in Budget 2025 for increased funding allocations will need to be honoured. A more ambitious long established young farmer scheme has to be delivered that caters for all eligible farmers, including those starting out in 2008 and thereafter.”
Funding
In addition to concerns about eligibility, the IFA has also voiced complaints with the funding available and the timeframe for applications.
“The support must be at least equivalent to what they would have received under the installation aid,” added Curran.
“The three-week application window (ending Wednesday 13 August) to secure necessary documentation and submit online, during the holiday season, is also far too tight.
“Farmers are finding it difficult to get queries addressed and assemble the required supporting documentation (eg educational qualifications, etc) to accompany applications. This must be extended to a more realistic timeframe.”
‘Deadline must be pushed back’ — ICMSA
Meanwhile, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) has reiterated its calls for the application deadline to be extended until at least 30 September.
Association deputy president Eamon Carroll said that numerous farmers have are unable to contact their advisors who are on holidays or their Agriculture College that are closed over the summer.
“It would surely make sense for the application deadline to be pushed to at least 30 September when normal administration resumes, and it would be that much easier to access the records and information that the Department itself is insisting accompany applications to the Scheme.”
Carroll added: “There is still significant concern that the ‘cut-off’ date of December 31, 2007, has excluded many farmers, the very individuals who began farming just as we were about to enter a period of national economic hardship with very limited supports for young farmers. In the context of the calls and feedback we are getting, that are surely being communicated to the other stakeholders, it’s very obvious that we need a second tranche or phase two that deals with those individuals.”
Read more
News Podcast: GAEC 2 appeals, bale stacking penalties and re-forgotten farmers
The ‘forgotten’ forgotten farmers
SHARING OPTIONS