Families ‘reluctant’ to apply for Farm Assist despite entitlement

A GREAT reluctance to apply for Farm Assist has been detected among farm families, even though they may be entitled to the social welfare payment, a farm leader has said.

Malcolm Thompson, president of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association, said many families see Farm Assist as the final admission that their traditional way of life is no longer viable.

“This is a matter of serious hurt to their pride and in many cases their self-confidence.

“Necessary visits to the doctor, visits to the dentist and the purchase of clothing are sometimes put on the long finger,” he said.

Farm Assist is not seen by farmers as a lifestyle of choice, but rather as a way of keeping their heads above water in times of dire necessity.

“They must realise that their situation is not one of their own making but as result of severe government cutbacks and I would urge them to take the necessary steps to apply for the payment.”

Independent MEP Marian Harkin has warned rural areas will be decimated for generations if the Government persists with REPS cutbacks and other measures of Bord Snip’s.

“At a time when every possible stimulus is needed to preserve jobs and the economic viability of rural areas, the REPS scheme must be ring-fenced from bad government decisions which conflict with their own and EU rural development policies,” she said.

Meanwhile, the IFA said the brucellosis free status secured by Ireland has the potential to save farmers €15 million a year in testing costs.

Derek Deane, deputy president, said €5 million of this saving would come from the removal of the pre-movement test on heifers under 24 months.

He said the way is now clear for Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith to relax brucellosis testing controls following publication of Ireland’s Brucellosis Free Status in the European Commission’s official journal.