Mayo TD Dara Calleary has spoken out on a Fianna Fáil motion calling for the Government to reverse its cuts to the Agri Options Scheme and the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme.
“We need clear and decisive action from the Government to support the agriculture sector, which is the engine of the economy here in Mayo and across the West of Ireland. There are 300,000 jobs in the agri-food industry alone and it contributes €24 billion to the economy,” said Deputy Calleary.
“Small farmers in Mayo have had a particularly difficult year and they are facing more difficulties after the Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney scaled back the AEOS and made changes to the minimum stocking density required under the DAS.”
Calleary has urged the Government to take decisive action to tackle rising diesel prices and to introduce an effective user rebate scheme that will alleviate the rising financial pressure on farmers, agriculture contractors, and farmers.
