Sinn Féin Councillor Gerry Murray has called on the Government to retain the Early Retirement Scheme and Young Farmer Installation Aid Scheme, which were scrapped in the recent Budget announceemnts.
Cllr Murray said: “While the amount of money involved in these schemes is relatively small, their removal will have serious implications for a significant number of elderly and young farmers throughout the country. In my own area there are many young farmers who have qualified for their FETAC certificate but who will not be given their grant because of the closure of the Installation Scheme.
“This is not only highly unfair to these young farmers who have worked hard to prepare themselves for farming, but it also represents a lack of faith by this Government in the future of farming. Along with the Early Retirement Scheme, Installation Aid has provided an important incentive towards facilitating farm transfer and the coming in of younger people into farming. I therefore call on the minister to reinstate the two schemes,” he concluded.
