State-funded sickness scheme urged to bring Irish farmers in line with Europe
Farm Relief Services chairman Pat McAuliffe, who called for the development, said farmers should be entitled to receive the same Government support for sickness and accidents as their European counterparts.
“Many European countries, such as Holland, France and Denmark, have state-funded relief programmes in place for farmers,” Mr McAuliffe said.
“If they are sick or injured, workers provided by farm relief services are brought in to look after the farm and ensure it maintains productivity. I strongly believe that Irish farmers should receive the same,” he said.
Mr McAuliffe said the absolute necessity to continue farm operations when sick or injured is a real worry for farmers and has the potential to lead to dire consequences.
“Due to the unique nature of farming, farms cannot simply be closed
up when the farmer is taken ill. “However, farmers often fear the potential cost of employing outside workers, so many carry on working even if it’s detrimental to their health.
“It is unacceptable and there is no reason why farmers should not receive some State support in such instances.”
Mr McAuliffe said it would make economic sense for the Government to ensure that farms are operating and fully productive even during times when the farmer was unable to work due to sickness or injury.
This issue was another unnecessary stress to add to the uncertainty in the industry caused by BSE, foot-and-mouth disease and the recent disastrous weather.
Farmers currently had enough on their plates without worrying about how they will cope if injury or sickness occurs, he said.
“We want to help ensure Ireland’s ongoing prosperity, but the Government needs to recognise that some form of assistance for sick or injured farmers is required in order to guarantee that,” Mr McAuliffe said.
Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh has meanwhile announced that he has contacted the EU Commission to seek a derogation from set-aside rules for this year in order to permit grazing of set-aside land and for the use of grass grown on it to be harvested for fodder.
The derogation has been sought on the basis of the exceptionally poor weather conditions and lower than average temperatures over the past three months.
