Budget 2025 represents the “last chance saloon” for the group known as the “forgotten farmers”, Macra has warned today (Monday, September 23).
There are an estimated 3,500 farmers who lost out on vital farmer supports due to cuts in public expenditure by the government following the last recession.
The ‘forgotten farmers’ had typically set up their agricultural holdings before 2008 and were under 40 in 2015 but did not qualify for Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) supports as had other young farmers at that time.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, told the Dáil earlier this year that it was his objective to include a scheme for the group in the next budget.
But with the countdown to Budget 2025 now underway, Macra national president, Elaine Houlihan, is calling on Minister McConalogue to “give his full support and honor his commitment by putting in place the necessary funding in Budget 2025”.
“A proposal to support forgotten farmers is part of Macra’s 2025 pre-budget submission and for the last decade or more Macra has been actively involved in discussion and has made countless submissions in relation to the forgotten farmers.
“Every effort must be made to accommodates the forgotten farmers through the provision of a scheme that is rolled out before the end of 2024,” Houlihan added.
Forgotten farmers
In July the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers’ Association (INHFA) also highlighted the plight of the forgotten farmers at its annual general meeting.
The AGM heard from Kenneth O’Brien, the founder of a group representing forgotten farmers, who personally highlighted the difficulties that the group has faced.
Vincent Roddy, the president of the INHFA said that while this group of farmers may be no longer too young they “have shown a major commitment to farming – despite being left behind with regard to previous CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) support”.
He added “In our budget submission we have sought funding of €20 million to help right this wrong. This is the year [and] this is the time that this group have their concerns addressed”.