Hundreds protest against farm cuts at Taoiseach’s constituency office

Hundreds of farmers protested against budget cuts outside the constituency office of Taoiseach Enda Kenny in Castlebar, Co Mayo, yesterday morning.

Mayo IFA county chairman Pardraic Joyce said: “The cuts by the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney to farm schemes have delivered a hammer blow to all farmers, and especially the low-income livestock sector.

“Government TDs have a responsibility to their farming constituents, whose work is underpinning jobs and economic activity across rural Ireland.”

IFA president John Bryan said cuts to the Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme, the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, the Sheep Grassland Scheme, and Farm Assist have slashed farm families' incomes.

He said: “The minister does not appear to understand the pressure farm families are under because of very difficult weather conditions and rising input costs this winter.

“Yet again, it is the low-income sector that has been singled out for such harsh treatment. Farmers who were expecting support during a difficult year have borne the brunt of the minister’s cuts.”