Brendan Smith addressed the Dáil urging the Government to publish details of a support scheme for farmers and agri-contractors without delay. He called for a straightforward scheme, flexible timelines and rapid payments to relieve cash-flow pressures caused by higher green diesel and fertiliser costs and reduced commodity prices.
Details requested
Brendan Smith asked that the Department of Agriculture announce scheme details at an early date and stressed the scheme must be as straightforward as possible and not tied up in paperwork. He emphasised flexibility in timelines so eligible applicants can access the aid they need.
Urgency for payments
Smith warned that many farmers and contractors face real cash-flow problems and urged the Department to issue payments as quickly as possible. He argued speed and simplicity are essential to prevent further financial strain on hard-working farm families.
Government response and next steps
The Taoiseach acknowledged the impact of the war and rising fuel prices and said a detailed package from the Department of Agriculture is expected within the next week or so. Smith said the package must cover farmers and contractors and consider gaps in related sectors where necessary.
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Thank you Sean Comhairle. Taoiseach, on the last sitting day here before Easter, I raised the very serious difficulties confronting farmers and agri-contractors due to the enormous increase in the price of green diesel at that time. I also referred to the increase in farm input costs, such as fertiliser, and also combined with those additional costs was also a reduction for some time in the prices paid to farmers for the farm products, namely commodity prices. Following the Government announcement of a scheme to help offset some of those costs, it is essential that the details of the scheme are announced at an early date. This needs to be a scheme as straightforward as possible and not tied up in paperwork. There needs to be some flexibility also in regard to timelines. Farmers and contractors also need the payments issued as quickly as possible. For many of those hard-working people, there are real cash flow problems at present, and the Department has to act with the utmost urgency and ensure that these essential payments are issued to eligible applicants as quickly as possible. Thank you Sean Comhairle. Thank you Deputy Smith, and I appreciate that you did raise this issue in terms of the impact of the war and the increased fuel prices on farmers and agri-contractors more generally. There is a pressing need, and I want to welcome the people of Formoy, who are right on agricultural country as well, but the need for a detailed package to be announced quickly is accepted, and my understanding is that within the next week or so we will have a package outlined from the Department of Agriculture and the Ministry of Agriculture in respect of farming and in respect of contractors. Then we have to look at perhaps one or two in the construction sector. Some will be covered by the haulier provisions and the transport, but are there others who may be outside that, and see if we can close that gap.
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