Still no tillage relief fund set up

CORK South West TD, Margaret Murphy O’Mahony, has again emphasised the need for the government to provide a tillage fund to support farmers up and down the south and west coasts of Ireland, who were badly affected by last summer’s bad harvests and adverse weather.

The Deputy raised her concerns about the delay in establishing a tillage relief fund directly with the Taoiseach during a promised legislation debate on the floor of the Dáil on Tuesday. She made the point that: ‘Last month, Fianna Fáil secured the majority support of Dáil Éireann to establish a Tillage Relief Fund, despite the objections of Fine Gael TDs, including local deputy, Jim Daly.

‘Recently, during the National Tillage Forum, Minister Creed committed to the establishment of the fund. Yet no details have emerged, and farmers are sick and tired of the waiting on Fine Gael to do what is needed to protect families farms.

‘The best the Taoiseach could commit to was saying that “Minister Creed will follow through on this commitment to a tillage fund.”
Unfortunately, if Minister Creed continues at the same pace of work, hundreds of farmers will have gone out of business, and entire families will be dependent on the state for support.

‘Where is the logic in allowing such a situation to develop?’ she asked. ‘Fianna Fáil also pressed the need for the Department of Agriculture to make payments under the GLAS scheme as quickly as possible. 

‘Thousands of farmers have been waiting many months for their payment. They need it to keep afloat, especially tillage farmers who have lost large portions of their other income.’