Attack on low income farms

Farmers led by IFA on the streets of Dublin this week, in their first post-budget protest since 2008, was another sign of an austerity time-bomb ticking for a government which promised to protect the most vulnerable to the greatest extent possible by, for example, not reducing any primary weekly rate of social welfare payment.

That looked like a hollow promise to farmers when they went through the small print, and discovered it was indeed the most vulnerable among them who have suffered most in this budget.

Nearly one farmer in 10 depends on Farm Assist, a means-tested income support scheme similar to jobseeker’s allowance.