Farmers heckle Cowen over rural support cutbacks

Up to 400 angry farmers heckled Taoiseach Brian Cowen today as they vented their fury over the closure of a much-needed grant scheme.

Mr Cowen faced boos, sirens and jeers over cutbacks in rural supports as he opened the latest stretch of the M6 in Co Galway.

The Irish Farmers Association claimed the Government’s decision to close the Rural Environmental Protection Scheme (Reps) – worth up to €6,500 to a farmer – would decimate the countryside.

But Mr Cowen insisted it would be irresponsible not to stick to strict budget controls.

“I think that what’s important to point out is that we had to ensure that those who are already in the scheme, that there are resources there to meet those commitments,” the Taoiseach told RTE Radio.

“It would be irresponsible if any government, where there is over-subscription, or beyond what’s in the budget line, were to allow it to continue because that puts at risk the payments that of course will be paid to those already in the scheme.”

The Reps scheme was being paid to about 30,000 farmers to maintain and upgrade farms.

Padraig Walshe, IFA president, said the scheme will restart next year but it is not clear how much money will be available.

“If the Government had given us any indication of the scheme closing we would have urged them to keep it open for those finishing this year and close it to new entrants,” he said.

“There’s no obvious means of replacing it. Farmers’ incomes are down because prices are down.

“We are getting the same price we were getting 30 years ago with 2009 costs - every area has been hit.”

Mr Walshe insisted, however, he would be urging his members to support the second Lisbon vote and not to muddy the waters between domestic and European issues.

Michael Silke, head of the IFA’s Connacht branch, warned the closure of Reps will put farmers out of business.

“We have a lot of families in rural Ireland who are dependant on the Reps scheme and the Disadvantage Area payment for 100% of their income – this has been taken away from them,” he said.

The new stretch of M6 costing €230m from Athlone to Ballinasloe, will cut journey times between Galway and Dublin by ten minutes.

It is the latest stage of improvements on the route with the next phase, a bypass around Ballinasloe, opening next Spring.

The farmers protest caused four-mile tailbacks at the road opening.