Galway Bay fm newsroom – A Galway TD is demanding an immediate change in the attitude shown by the Department of Social Protection towards farmers.
Galway East TD Paul Connaughton says he meets farmers struggling with the Farm Assist scheme across the county on a weekly basis.
He says departmental reviews often result in huges cuts for farmers despite little change in circumstance – and the community is starting to question the value of the scheme.
The Fine Gael Deputy says that many significant costs incurred by farmers are not taken into account – and the Department of Social Protection is showing a real lack of understanding of their position.
Deputy Connaughton says a workable Farm Assist scheme is essential to a large number of people in rural Galway.