Island farmers seek financial help

A campaign was being launched today to highlight serious problems confronting farmers on the 17 islands off the south and west coasts of Ireland.

The Irish Farmers’ Association wants the Government to provide extra financial help for up to 600 people reckoned to make a living from farming on islands without exchequer or European Union assistance.

The IFA today said a range of cash boosts and concessions had to be made available immediately if farming on off-shore islands was to have a chance of survival.

A recent survey indicated that most of the farmers did not qualify for existing grants because of difficulties generated by the small and fragmented nature of their land and the additional transport costs.

The organisation’s first-ever strategy for the islands called for the off-shore farmers to be compensated by a doubling of existing payments and the injection of around €1.5m in development projects.

IFA deputy president Ruairi Deasy said: ‘‘Island farmers are trying to eke out a living against huge odds in conditions that are much more difficult and challenging than on the mainland.

‘‘Our blueprint could help revitalise farming on the islands. But failure to act now will inevitably lead to serious decline.’’