The stark fact that over 4,000 farmers and fishermen have moved to job seekers allowance over the past decade is a shocking reminder of how these vital and valuable sectors are being pushed out of existence.
Aontú Senator Sarah O’Reilly said that data released to her party shows some 4,235 people working in forestry, fishing and agriculture have moved to Job Seekers allowance or Job Seekers benefit since 2016.
Senator O’ Reilly who sits on the Oireachtas Joint Fishing Committee says the figure is an underestimation of the numbers leaving the sector.
She says
“These figures, while both sad and sobering, don’t fully reflect the situation. People are leaving these sectors in droves, they’re heading for Canada and Australia. I have family members who have left, I know so many families in my constituency who have lost family members to the opportunities that countries offer, leading to the abandonment or sale of farms.
If these figures don’t act as a clarion call for real action by this Government nothing will.
These industries have long been the backbone of Irish rural life. It is no exaggeration to say that the fishing sector is in deep decline.
In recent years, many Irish farmers and fishermen have lost their livelihoods, impacting both income and long-standing traditions. Government policies—such as proposed herd culling, the Mercosur trade deal, carbon taxes, delayed ACRES payments, and the ridiculous concept of ‘bog rewetting’—have increased anxiety and financial strain in rural communities. The agriculture sector faces excessive bureaucracy—the rigmarole is strangling the sector, insufficient financial support, and a lack of recognition for the skill and dedication of farmers and fishermen. There is an urgent need for more effective government support and streamlined regulations to sustain both the Irish agriculture and fishing sectors which are an intrinsic part of Irish life for generations”.
