Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue has been called on to provide additional dates and venues for in-person farmer training under the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP).
The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) criticised the fact that only five dates were announced, all of which are taking place on each day of this week, from 9:30a.m to 2:30p.m.
Declan Hanrahan, the IFA’s livestock chairperson, said that there must be more events provided within easy access for all suckler farmers who are in SCEP, and that the time of the events must be pushed back to the afternoon or evening to make it easier for farmers to attend.
Suckler farmers in SCEP must have the training requirement in the scheme completed by November 15 in order to avail of payment.
“Large numbers of suckler farmers have raised valid concerns regarding the locations and associated travel times and timing of the meetings,” Hanrahan said.
He called on the minister to announce further dates and venues to ensure farmers have adequate time to arrange to attend “these important events to remain compliant with the scheme requirements”.
“In organising the additional venues, the minister must be cognisant of the areas where the greatest needs are and all farmers must be provided with a number of options within close proximity to their location,” the IFA livestock chair said.
“It is not acceptable for the minister or his officials to expect farmers to undertake long journeys to attend these events as is currently the situation with only five venues.
“There must be a number of venues available to farmers in all counties and the dates and locations of these must be announced immediately to allow farmers make arrangements to attend and avoid the stress of potentially undertaking long and unnecessary journeys to attend one of the events taking place this week,” Hanrahan added.
He said: “SCEP payments are vital for suckler farmers and it is important the minister ensure there are no obstacles put in the way of farmers in meeting the scheme requirements.”