Deputy Charlie McConalogue, Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Agriculture, addressed a large gathering at a public meeting in Elphin Mart last week in relation to tackling the fodder and farm income crisis.
Deputy Eugene Murphy, who facilitated the meeting, said that he personally is acutely aware of the many challenges faced by the farming sector.
He said that Fianna Fáil had secured the first in a series of improved payments for the suckler sector with an initial €20m enhanced fund for farmers in Budget 2019.
Deputy Murphy said that concerns regarding an over-reliance on forestry in the region were voiced at the meeting.
Deputy Murphy said that it was hugely disappointing that the government has refused to introduce a low-cost cash flow loan scheme for farmers. He also noted that farmers were still waiting for the €25m Brexit loan scheme, announced in last year’s Budget, to open.
