Farmers to converge on Ennis for IFA protest against budget cutbacks

ENNIS will be the venue for the next regional protest by the Irish Farmers Association against the budget cuts in farm schemes.

Farmers from Clare, south Galway, Offaly, Tipperary, Limerick and north Kerry will gather in the town on Sunday to highlight what they say is the disproportionate burden of the cuts.

They will assemble at Clare Marts on the Quin Road at 2pm and march to O’Connell Square, where they will be addressed by IFA leaders and politicians.

IFA president Pádraig Walshe said the local economy is facing an income loss of over €20 million following the budget cuts.

“The reality is these schemes provide essential support to farmers in peripheral areas, especially in the West.

“The Government has attacked the livelihoods of these low-income farmers and cut their support by up to 25%,” he said.

Mr Walshe urged members to attend the protest in Ennis to maintain the momentum of the campaign against the cuts.

Meanwhile, Macra na Feirme is encouraging young farmers in the mid-west region to join with the IFA in the protest.

Macra, along with the IFA, presented details of hundreds of young farmers affected by the suspensions of both the installation aid and early retirement schemes to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food this week.

Macra president Catherine Buckley said young farmers are severely affected by the budget and could potentially see their farm family income slashed by over €33,000 next year.

Ms Buckley called on the Government to reverse the decision to suspend both schemes.

Meanwhile, an IFA sheep protest continued yesterday outside the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in Dublin.

It is part of a campaign calling for the introduction of a sheep maintenance payment.