Fianna Fáil election candidate Charlie McConalogue TD has outlined a €130m investment in farmers and the Agri-sector, should his party be elected into government.
McConalogue says the agricultural proposals in his Party’s manifesto dwarfs all others and is investing substantially in farm incomes and protecting farm families.
He commented: “Fine Gael have abandoned farmers in their 2020 manifesto with just €10m in specific new spending commitments. In contrast, Fianna Fáil is committing to spending an additional €130m in exchequer funding on the sector.
“My party is substantially investing in farm incomes and safeguarding the family model of farming. This is pivotal to the rural economy. Rural Ireland has been entirely neglected by this outgoing Fine Gael government.
“We are making a statement of intent by investing an additional €50m in the ANC scheme, bringing total funding to €300m per annum over a term of government. This scheme is critical to enhancing farm incomes, preventing land abandonment, while protecting bio-diversity.
“Finally, to address a real issue that is causing family heart break, a Fianna Fáil led government will implement the proposed Fair Deal changes for farm families, while increase funding by €225m.”
Fianna Fáil’s promises for farmers:
- Setup an independent National Food Ombudsman.
- Ensure a fully funded, fair, and simpler CAP that safeguards direct payments.
- Secure national ceilings at EU level on individual CAP payments and restrict them to €60,000.
- Ensure a suckler cow payment of €200 per head on the first 20 cows.
- Increase funding to the ANC scheme by €50m.
- Introduce a farmer friendly agri-environmental scheme in the next CAP.
- Establish an Independent Agriculture Appeals Review Panel with farmer representation.
- Restore the National Parks and Wildlife Service Farm Plan Scheme.
- Reduce ammonia emissions by introducing 100% capital allowances for the uptake of 1,500 units of Low Emission Slurry Spreading Equipment annually.
- Introduce incentives in the next CAP to increase tree planting on farms and ensure a focus on broadleaves and native species.
- Restore the annual forest premium rates to pre-2009 levels.
- Implement the proposed Fair Deal changes for farming families.
- Expand Farm Assist income disregards.
“It is evident to anyone in the sector that the outgoing government have entirely abandoned farmers and their families. Fianna Fáil will stand by them by implementing our Agricultural policies which I believe will make the difference in this sector. These are our commitments to the farming sector if leading the next government,” concluded Deputy McConalogue.
