IFA want flexible rural social scheme

IFA rural development chairman Padraic Divilly yesterday called on Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Minister Eamon O’Cuiv to ensure that the new rural social scheme designed for farmers is flexible and workable.

He said this is necessary to ensure that the scheme meets its twin objectives of helping low income farmers and improving rural services.

Mr Divilly welcomed the initiative which will provide 2,500 places but said: “The scheme must stimulate rather than strangle local initiative which has happened with community employment type schemes in the past.”