Aontú TD for Mayo, Paul Lawless, has been highly critical of today’s budget in how it treats farmers. He has pointed to a €73 million reduction in the total envelope allocated to agriculture and the fact that there has been no reduction to tax on green diesel.
Speaking today, Deputy Lawless said: “This year has been a crisis for Irish farmers. Irish farmers are clinging to their land by the skin of their teeth in many cases. The sharp and dramatic rises in input costs, the lack of proper government supports coupled with an unusually dry summer and the ever looming threat of Brazilian beef has caused panic and uncertainty across the sector. A recent opinion poll found that one in three farmers in Ireland plan on leaving the sector in the next five years”.
Deputy Lawless continued: “Today’s budget does little to address input costs. The overall envelope given by the Minister to the Department of Agriculture is down by €73 million on last years’ budget allocation. This is €150 million when we factor in inflation. This cut is completely unacceptable and comes at the worst time. It will have ramifications for farmers over the next twelve months”.
“The other scandal of this budget is that it does little to reduce the cost of green diesel. The subsidy scheme is being extended but we all know how flawed that subsidy scheme is, wrapped up in paperwork, undersubscribed and unfair in how it is calculated. If farmers had been given a choice between the extension of this scheme or a tax reduction or price cap on green diesel they would have chosen tax cuts. The government needs to outline clearly how this €73 million reduction will affect farmers and the department” concluded Lawless.
