Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Agriculture Charlie McConalogue TD has said the Minister for Social Protection and her Department must review Farm Assist Scheme forms to ensure that farmers are not slowed down by red tape when applying for the payment.
Deputy McConalogue commented, “My constituency office, and my colleagues in Fianna Fáil, are regularly meeting with members in the farming community who have been thrown by the farm assist payment forms.
“These convoluted forms, with all the requirements within, are a yearly ordeal for farmers.”
He added that the Farm Assist Scheme was established by Fianna Fáil to provide a valuable payment for low-income farmers.
“While the last Fine Gael led government introduced drastic cuts to the scheme in 2012, Fianna Fáil have managed, under the Confidence and Supply arrangement, to reverse these cuts.
“The Minister must instruct her Department to review this form to ensure the farm assist application is a swift and simple process for those in the farming community,” concluded Deputy McConalogue.
