Donegal’s 4 Fianna Fáil TDs must stand up against the government for the county’s farmers

Fine Gael TD Deputy Joe McHugh has described the government’s decision to close the REPS 4 scheme for new applicants as ‘a devastating body blow’ for up to 800 Donegal farmers who will finish their environmental plans over the next three years.

Speaking in Leinster House as he reacted the closure of REPS 4 with just 24 hours notice Deputy McHugh scathingly criticized the Fianna Fáil government and Minister Brendan Smith.

Deputy McHugh also issued a strong challenge to his Donegal-based Oireachtas colleagues, calling on An Tánaiste Mary Coughlan, Deputy Niall Blaney, Deputy Jim McDaid, and Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher MEP to stand up for the county’s farmers.

Joe McHugh TD said,

“The closure yesterday evening of REPS 4 for new applicants is devastating news for up to 800 Donegal farmers who will finish their environmental plans over the next three years.

“Last weekend an annual farm income survey published by Teagasc revealed that Donegal farm incomes are lower than farm incomes in every other county in the country. Farmers in the north-west earned just €8,635 on average in 2008, compared to the €27,786 earned on average by farmers in the south-east of Ireland.

“The same Teagasc report judges just 56% of farms in the north-west to be demographically viable. This figure will be halved to below 30% if the government does not immediately roll out a scheme that would ensure that the net benefit to farm income of REPS would be maintained.

“The closure of this scheme could be a death knell for farming in Donegal, and this summer the government is throwing Irish farmers to the wolves. Minister Smith made this announcement without any consultation with farmers elected representatives in Dáil Eireann, and without consultation with the major Irish farming associations.

“I call on Donegal’s government TDs to stand by our people and to stand for our people on this issue. An Tánaiste Mary Coughlan, Deputy Niall Blaney, Deputy Jim McDaid, and Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher TD MEP must ensure that a new farm-income maintenance scheme is rolled out very quickly. I will be holding Donegal’s four government TDs to account on this issue this summer.”