Celtic Tiger’s windfall farmers should take pain

WITH this country facing economic disaster and the possibility of the IMF moving in, many ordinary citizens are asking where did all the money that was generated during the Celtic Tiger years go?

Regularly we hear about the banks’ and developers’ escapades. We know about the banks and the amount of spin they have put on their activities. We know, up to 2007, that developers were making an awful lot of money but, as business people, we know they had to continue to invest, even into early 2008, to stay in business with some having paid millions for a couple of acres of ‘prime’ land that is today worth only a couple of thousand. So the question is, who were the real beneficiaries of the Celtic Tiger years and where has all the lolly gone?

Of course the answer is all around us.

In rural areas 10 years ago, if you looked out your front or back door the chances are you would only see fields. Not any more. Today, whichever way you look, your view is hindered by one-off houses or estates. These houses occupy land that was worth next to nothing 10-to-15 years ago. However, land adjacent to urban areas was bought from 2002 onwards for colossal sums and the owners, who were mainly farmers, became rich beyond their wildest dreams.

These are the same farmers who were, and still are, benefiting from various European funds

I believe those who made a large fortune during the Celtic Tiger years should be asked to dig deep. When I hear of cuts in benefits to the lowest paid, cuts in services, St Vincent’s hospital unable to provide for cystic fibrosis sufferers, I ask where are the Government’s priorities when it comes to the budget?

Leo Armstrong

Anne Street

Prosperous

Naas

Co Kildare