Suckler farmers on building site could 'make in a month' their yearly profit - TD
Suckler farmers working on a building site "would make in a month, what they make in 12 months farming," Sinn Féin's agriculture spokesperson has claimed.
The Sligo-Leitrim TD, Martin Kenny, told the Dáil that while Ireland has a "vibrant economic model in our farming sector" sometimes statistics do not completely paint the "overall picture" about the reality of farming for some families.
Kenny singled out the "Teagasc farm report" which he said "sometimes covers up some very disappointing situations, especially the suckling sector".
According to the Sinn Féin TD while the suckler sector is important to his part of the country, "where we have very low farm incomes" - it is difficult to make a profit from it.
"A suckler farmer with 40 acres would find it hard to make a profit of €5,000 or €6,000 a year.
"If they were working on a building site, they would make in a month what they make in 12 months farming," Deputy Kenny outlined.
As a result he said sucker farmers must have an "off-farm income".
"Therefore we have to ensure there is a vibrant economy in those rural areas alongside the agricultural economy so they have other opportunities," Deputy Kenny added.
The Sligo-Leitrim TD also highlighted that the "sheep sector is very difficult".
"We have to understand that for many people living on marginal land in poorer circumstances, where they do not have options, and although dairying is doing very well, that cannot be for everywhere, we have to recognise there should be better assistance in place for them.
"That is where the schemes come in, the ones government has control over," Deputy Kenny added.
He also highlighted in the Dáil farmers' "frustration" with the Agri Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES).
Deputy Kenny said this scheme has "significant problems that exist, which are far from resolved".
"Every time a scheme is brought out, it is difficult, onerous and hard to comply with and slow to get paid. That is what happens with farmers every time.
"There is a big job of work to be done in the Department of Agriculture to ensure there is a sea change in respect of all that," he said.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, has pledged that "resolving the challenges farmers have faced with payments are top of my priority list".
According to Minister Heydon more than €428 million has been paid out to ACRES farmers to date.
"I acknowledge the significant frustration and challenges for those farmers who have not received clarity or who are awaiting payment," the minister told the Dáil yesterday (Thursday, February 20).
