The Government’s failure to pay the Farm Waste Management Scheme (FWMS ) grants within a realistic timeframe is causing undue hardship to farmers in the region, according to Longford/Westmeath Fine Gael Deputy James Bannon this week.
“I am receiving ongoing representations from farmers let down by the Government due to the excessively long periods they are being forced to wait for payment under FWMS, which can extend many months after they have been approved for grant aid.
“Many are also having difficulties caused by deferred planning decisions.
“Sums in excess of €40,000 required to build waste management facilities are unrealistic for farmers hard hit by the bad summer conditions and by bureaucracy and red tape.
“Now in a move designed to hit our farmers when they are down, reports indicate that unbelievably, the Government is not to extend the deadline for this scheme beyond December 31.
“There are numerous reasons why the Government should support the farmers and make representation on their behalf to the EU for flexibility in this matter but chief among them has to be the Government’s own mismanagement of the scheme to date.
“Grant aid of this nature needs to be fast tracked for payment not withheld and deferred under Government cost-cutting measures.
“Not only are farmers dependent on the efficient operation and extension of this scheme but it is also guaranteed to provide work for hard-pressed construction workers.
“An extension to the December deadline would give farmers a chance to meet their waste management commitments and give the construction industry a boost over the months to come.
“This would be joined-up thinking in action but I ask as I have asked many times before – is cohesive policy beyond the ability of this Government?
“If the Government fails the farmers in this respect, it is also failing to meet its own environmental commitments”.
