Tim Cullinan, president of the Irish Farmers Association, commented on the potential implementation by the EU Commission of a lump sum scheme designed to address pressures resulting from the inputs crisis as a diversion of funding rather than the provision of new funding.
He said the scheme does not make extra EU funding available for farmers. It was simply a way for member states to shift funding from the Rural Development Plan (RDP) already in place.
It will give no respite to farmers battling to survive increasing production costs as well as hikes in the cost of living. “If the Commission is serious about supporting farmers, then it should come forward with a significant package for farm families,” said Cullinan.
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