Budget 2023 offers 'little for family farmers, claims Carthy

Budget 2023 offers "little for Ireland’s family farmers", according to Sinn Féin's agriculture spokesperson.

Matt Carthy TD asserts the government failed to recognise the scale of the challenges facing many farmers.

Deputy Carthy states the Government measures amount to €11million of "additional funding beyond what was pre-committed in non-core Brexit related funding", and claims Sinn Féin’s Alternative Budget would have provided €165.5million "in current and capital supports" for the Department.

“Following all the rhetoric at the Ploughing Championships just last week, the government have completely failed farmers in Budget 2023," said Deputy Carthy.

“Behind all repackaged announcements in the government’s Budget pack – the fact is that just €11million of additional resources have been allocated to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

“It is evident that there will not be sufficient funding for those farmers that need it most."

Measures in the Sinn Féin Alternative Budget had included a suckler farm payment of up to €300 per cow/calf pair; a Sheep Improvement Scheme of €20 per ewe; an additional €25million for farms on Areas of Natural Constraint and €15million of additional funding for organics.

“The government’s budget will not provide sufficiently in any of these areas. This is a budget that will mean little for our family farmers.

“At a time when farmers are facing multiple challenges from Brexit, rising input costs and Climate obligations – this is a clearly a government that fails to recognise the scale of those challenges.”