The 17.5 per cent reduction in REPS 4 and the fact that Teagasc have been instructed not to renew contracts for REPS planners, will impact badly on farmers and cause job losses.
This is the view of Fine Gael’s Oranmore candidate Eamonn Fox, who is “scathing” about the cuts announced in last week’s Budget. He said that when current contracts expire “many young agricultural graduates” will be on the dole.
“Teagasc makes €3 million a year from work generated by the planners so this income stream will also be curtailed,” he said. “Many of the contracts will be terminating in June 2009 with a further 100 in June 2010.”
Mr Fox’s election campaign will officially be launched by Dep Michael Ring, tomorrow at 9pm in Grealish’s of Carnmore.
