This article is from page 73 of the 2008-07-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 73 JPG
IT appears that Clare farmers will escape any direct losses as a result of the cut in government spending an- nounced last week.
The farming organisations however, have expressed fears that a number of schemes, especially the Farm Im- provement Scheme, could face a very uncertain future.
In the meantime however, the IFA has welcomed the department’s pro- tection of the schemes and its com- mitment to “enhancing the com- petitiveness of farming and the food sector”.
IFA President Padraig Walshe said the current farm investment scheme is clearly boosting the construction
sector in rural areas.
“The investment programme by farmers, supported by department grant schemes, would strengthen the competitiveness of the sector at a time when the industry had to meet the most stringent environmental conditions,’ he said.
Speaking on Thursday, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith, confirmed that his department would be providing sav- ings of €9.1 million in 2008 towards the Government’s overall savings of €440 million. The minister said he would seek more savings in 2009.
“The €9.1 million will be absorbed by the administrative budgets in my department and its state agencies and will involve savings in operating
costs, including salaries,’ said Min- ister Smith.
“T can confirm that €1.04 million would be saved on this department’s administrative budget, €5.391 mul- lion would be sought from the state agencies under this department’s ae- gis and a further €2.679 million will be saved on consultancies, PR and payroll costs.
“I will be examining every aspect of my department’s programme of schemes and services with a view to ensuring that expenditure is fully justified and that we get the best pos- sible value for public investment in these sectors.”
Emphasising the significant contri- bution to the economy made by the agriculture, food, forestry and fish-
ing industries, Minister Smith de- scribed the agri-food sector as “one of our most important indigenous manufacturing industries” which ac- counts for almost 7 per cent of GDP, 8 per cent of employment and 10 per cent of exports.
The Minister said that the range of measures and schemes funded by his department were “important drivers of economic development in the agri- culture, fisheries and food sectors”.
Minister Smith concluded with a commitment to continue with this prudent approach to managing the public finances in order to support the agri-food sector but also in tak- ing any additional and proportionate measures required to manage our way through the current difficulties.