Approval of Rural Development Programme welcomed by ICSA

THE approval of Ireland’s revised Rural Development Programme by Brussels was described as a positive development yesterday by the president- elect of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association.

Gabriel Gilmartin said it was necessary for Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith to engage with farm organisations to ensure a workable scheme is put in place.

“If this is going to be in any way a meaningful and a successful substitute for the REPS scheme, it will have to be based on a low-cost model.